We don't need no Gum-ment regulations!

Always disheartening to hear of a roof collapse in my trade. May solace be with everyone at Mid America Sound, IA local 30, ESG security and all fairgoers, event workers and crews.

That's horrible. Honestly, looking at the video it was clear that the wind was seriously raging. I'd say there was some negligence on the part of the fair organizers to allow the event to go on with 50-77 MPH winds. High winds + multi-story tall stage rigging = bad news.

For the record, there was not a lot of wind before the event and even during the pre-show. The storm moved in VERY fast and they had just made an announcement telling of emergency evacuation plans. To my knowledge, you CAN NOT predict wind. So, no, there was no neglegence on the part of the fair committee. (And I am not affiliated with the fair in any way. Just an observer)

"There is no need for safety regulations. These things happen. Survivors can make a free market choice to go to another state fair instead.

"And, it's not our responsibility to look after the wounded or the families of the death. It's their tough luck. If they didn't manage their lives to be rich enough to get through this, that's their problem."

That's what government and civil society look like in a nasty brutish and short-lived Republican world.

good info about this on DU. I used to do some of this stuff. They always push the limits on weather rather than cancel an event and lose the revenue. Also the stage roof was far too high to only be supported and stayed by scaffolding towers and what appears to be guy wires that were insufficient in at least one direction if not more. That is a tremendous amount of weight with lights and speakers hanging that high. When you get wind of even 20 miles an hour you would have major problems. Big cranes used in building industries typically will not do lifts when the wind is over about 20-25 mph. Those cranes are a lot more sturdy than some aluminum scaffolding. I believe the stage company and the fair are going to pay many millions of dollars for this. It never had to happen. Indiana could have long ago built a permanent stage structure that could have withstood this. They chose not to and to go the cheaper route of "temporary, portable staging". This was no "fluke" it was bound to happen sooner or later for them. It has happened before with these types of stages.

Here is a link to video of the MBNA outdoor stage collapse at the Ottawa Bluesfest during a Cheap Trick show on 7-17-2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfqpXNfywT4

Here is a message from their website speaking out about their concerns about roof collapse that was the only festival stage that needed to be rebuilt annually. http://www.cheaptrick.co...crews-and-fans-protected

That storm did blow in very very quickly and they did warn the concert goers about their safety. Someone leaving that area said they were evacuating due to concerns of the weather, not 5 mins later the stage fell. I didn't have tickets to the concert, I was leaving to go to the parking area behind the stage and was in an underground tunnel when the wind gust hit and the stage came down, sadly I think it was just poorly constructed and top heavy. I'm not an engineer though. My prayers go out to the families of those that died and those that were injured.