August 13, 2011 - The State Fair Sugarland Stage Collapse

Digital WritersThe Weather Network

Published on Aug. 13, 2020, 12:08 PM

A Sugarland concert was about to start at the Indiana State Fair when officials were given warnings about imminent storms. The show went on, and seven people died.

On August 13, 2011, Indiana State Fair was hosting a Sugarland concert. The opening act was Sara Bareilles.

The headliners were scheduled to go on stage at 8:45. A thunderstorm was scheduled for around the same time.

The National Weather Service issued warnings for the area of the fairgrounds. State Fair officials received these warnings via automated text messages.

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All warnings were in place early enough that proper actions could have occurred. Unfortunately, they were not. Listen to the "This Day in Weather History" podcast to hear the timeline of the events that led to the preventable injury and demise of many.

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