UPDATE: The Missouri State Fair will reopen today at 3 p.m. after overnight storms caused a delay. Safety measures put in place and coordination with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Fire Safety made for a seamless evacuation of the fairgrounds late last night. No injuries were reported to people or livestock.
"Last night's weather caused some delays, but the grounds will be up and running this afternoon so families can join us for the tradition of the Missouri State Fair," said Mark Wolfe, director of the Missouri State Fair. "Because of our seamless coordination with our partners, the Highway Patrol and Fire Safety, we were able to make the public aware early of the possible threat of storms and safely evacuate facilities to ensure everyone stayed safe."
All activities will resume today at 3 p.m. including all scheduled events tonight. Luke Bryan, with Josh Thompson, will take the Pepsi Grandstand stage tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Online:
Earlier coverage:
AFTERNOON UPDATE: The fairgrounds remain closed this afternoon, even though initial plans were to try to have power restored by noon.
Original version:
SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri State Fairgrounds are closed after a strong storm knocked out power.
Fair officials say all events scheduled for Friday morning were canceled.
The storm knocked down several tents and trailers, as well as trees and power lines when it blew through on Thursday night.
Livestock owners and concessionaires will be allowed onto the grounds to check their property but the grounds are closed to the general public.
Kansas City Power and Light reports that about 7,600 customers were without power in the Sedalia area Friday morning.