Lollapalooza evacuated because of thunderstorm (estimated 100,000 fans)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP/CBS

(AP) CHICAGO - Police evacuated tens of thousands of concertgoers from the Lollapalooza music festival on Saturday before a powerful thunderstorm swept into downtown Chicago and pelted the outdoor venue with rain.

The event was indefinitely suspended at 3:30 p.m. after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued, said police spokesman Darryl Baety.

The estimated 100,000 fans at the sold-out show left Grant Park calmly as they were led to evacuation and shelter sites in underground parking garages along Michigan Avenue.

Day two of the three-day event, which concludes Sunday, was supposed to culminate with the Red Hot Chili Peppers rocking out on the main stage. Concert organizers said Saturday's show would resume if and when it's deemed safe to do so.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57486868/lollapalooza-evacuated-because-of-thunderstorm/

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Fans are evacuated from Grant park due to an approaching storm during 2012 Lollapalooza at Grant Park on August 4, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. That was some storm!

I kept expecting the electricity to go out because the thunder and lightning were so close.

[mucifer]

2. seems to be over now.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. I'm on the North side near Wrigley.

I saw what appeared to me to be a wall cloud and a bit of swirling - maybe even a little rotation.

It passed north of us probably around Irving or Montrose.

The clouds rolled in and alarmed the boyfriend enough to call me to the window. I was alarmed/excited enough to have him snap some pics on the IPhone (I'll see if anything came out tomorrow).


I thought for sure we were going to see a funnel. It went out over the lake and dissipated.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. I'm in the near western suburbs.

It came in very quickly, rained hard for about an hour, then gradually dissipated. I heard distant thunder about 10 last night.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. I'm gonna haul ass to Lollapalooza...

[aikoaiko]

6. It makes me feel a bit old to know those kids weren't born yet when I attended early Lollapaloozas.

I'm the old guy nodding his head to music while drinking a beer at the back of the bar now.

[zellie]

7. It sucked and it over quickly.

nt

[surrealAmerican]

8. This is what good planning will get you ...

... no injuries, and the event resumed after the storm. Good job, Lollapalooza organizers.

[Major Nikon]

9. I've been to a few baseball games where fans were removed from the stands due to weather

Every time I thought it went poorly because so many people just refuse to follow simple instructions. I can't imagine what trying to evacuate something like this would be.