Missouri State Fair Severe Weather Plan

Officials at the Missouri State Fair “really upped their game” with their severe weather plan after the 2011 tragedy at the Indiana State Fair.

That’s according to fair director Mark Wolfe, who gave ABC 17 Investigates an extensive look at the state fair’s severe weather plan.

“Obviously, several years ago with the tragedy in Indiana at the state fair grounds, really upped everyone’s game,” Wolfe told ABC 17 News. “People looked at that, learned from those mistakes that were made there and really dramatically reviewed and overhauled our process for doing that.”

Wolfe said they “now have a meteorologist on site from the National Weather Service that’s here each day of the fair.” The meteorologist monitors the weather into the evening and through the night, if necessary.

The fair also has four tornado sirens, four safe houses and an evacuation plan for all campers.

“A few years ago, the state fair applied for a FEMA grant and we had four tornado sirens put in that are tied into the city of Sedalia. So, when their’s goes off, ours goes off too, but ours are unique in that we can speak directly over them,” Wolfe explained.

If there’s a tornado warning for Pettis County, all of the fair gates become exit gates and they are swung open so people can leave. Wolfe said the Missouri State Highway Patrol mans those gates and directs traffic.

Wolfe said there are 75 people on site who serve as medics. He said there also about 80 troopers with the highway patrol.

Furthermore, the fairgrounds are equipped with a fire station, where people can be treated for heat exhaustion.

“They also have golf carts so they can go pick people up….they’ll treat them on site, get them cooled down, and based on their condition they will decide whether to transport them to the hospital,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe said the most important thing is to warn people early and give them plenty of time to react.

“It’s not uncommon for us to evacuate the campgrounds and go out there with firetrucks during the fair and talk to the folks over loudspeaker or speaker systems and ask them to move. We man those shelters during those situations,” he said, adding, “I think the more time you give folks to react to those things the better.”