INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An emergency plan outlining what to do if severe weather threatens the Indiana State Fair takes up a single page and does not mention the potential for evacuations. Most of the guidelines suggest language for PA announcements and offer common-sense advice about seeking shelter.
After high winds toppled a huge outdoor stage, killing five people and injuring at least four dozen, questions about whether the fair did enough to anticipate a storm have loomed over the event. Some fairs hire their own meteorologists for just such a scenario.
The Indiana fair's one-page plan has nine bullet points. Two of them quote specific wording for announcements to be made when severe weather moves in and when the all-clear is sounded. Others say people should move away from tents into buildings, but do not say which ones.
The remaining points give generic recommendations comparable to the advice provided by TV forecasters or public-service announcements - "remain alert to worsening conditions" and keep away from windows.
State fair spokesman Andy Klotz confirmed Tuesday that the one-page statement is the event's severe weather policy but declined to elaborate.
While the page is only part of an overall emergency plan, it's far less specific than the policies of some other state fairs and outdoor venues, some of which have iron-clad rules about weather and stage construction.
The plan for the Indiana fair was drawn up by state police and approved by fair officials. Before the fair opened, the procedures were circulated to local emergency management officials at a briefing that included Indianapolis police and fire officials, according to an emergency management official who reviewed the plan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue.
The emergency plan did not list any single person to coordinate decisions on evacuations, the official said.
Firefighters who had doubts about the plan shared their concerns with Gary Coons, Indianapolis homeland security director, who contacted state police, the official said.
Gov. Mitch Daniels on Tuesday called the state fair's emergency plan a "pretty well thought-through policy" but did not elaborate. The governor also said he may support mandating limited inspections of temporary structures like the state fair stage, which toppled onto a crowd of concert-goers awaiting a show by the country duo Sugarland.
It remained unclear Tuesday whether anyone had inspected the stage, or if anyone was supposed to do so.