Storms rough up festivalgoers

LAWRENCE, Ind. (WISH) - Wind gusts toppled trees and power lines and sent folks running for shelter on Friday as storms interrupted the Fourth of July Festival held at Lawrence Community Park. One person was injured when the storm rolled through.

A tent used for shelter and entertainment was damaged and nearly tumbled when the storm hit. Stakes used to secure the shelter tent lifted about six feet. A pole that was used to hold the tent in place fell.

Some said if quick-thinking patrons hadn’t stepped in, the tent would have tumbled. As the wind whipped, two good Samaritans quickly mounted the tent to a nearby pickup truck. Tammy Gilbert watched.

“Chairs were flying,” she said. “The outhouse was flying. Dust was flying, and people couldn’t’ see.”

Flying debris hit a Chicago-based vendor in the face moments after her tent snapped. She was treated on scene. Lawrence Fire Department Battalion Chief Dino Batalis said he feared the worst when the tent “started wobbling.”

Lawrence Mayor Dean Jessup said safety is his No. 1 priority.

Safety inspectors gave the go-ahead for a show under the tent Friday night, but organizers said a new tent would be put up Saturday.

And the downpour offered quick relief from record-high temps.

“It feels a lot better it has cooled down, “ Tammy Gilbert said. “You can breathe now.”

But the rain wasn’t enough to relieve drought conditions and fire dangers.

“We need a good steady rain that will last all day or several hours,” Batalis said. “The rain we had [Friday] is a quick downpour, so it is just going to run off. The ground is so hard, it is not saturating the ground. The risk is still going to be there. “