NEW YORK STATE FAIR 1998

~~~BACK IN THE DAY~~~
1998
STORM HITS NEW YORK STATE FAIR
From Ronald Finch

Dick, the Pictures and the below quote is from the NOAA website.  The storm hit on a Sunday night before Labor Day and the fair was closed on Labor Day due to the damage to both the fairgrounds and the surrounding area.  It was a miracle that there were not more casualties!  Ronald C. Finch

 

 

.Onondaga County: Widespread structural damage resulted and tens of thousands of trees were toppled in northern portions of the county. Direct human impact was also felt. Two fatalities and seven injuries occurred at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes. The bow echo complex first entered northwestern sections of the county just after 01:00 AM EDT. It initially tore through the Baldwinsville area, leaving many streets littered with downed trees and utility poles. The storms progressed rapidly towards the east-southeast and affected an area from Clay across Onondaga Lake to Camillus and Geddes from 01:15 to 01:20 AM EDT. Severe damage was inflicted upon the State Fairgrounds in Geddes. Most of the temporary holding structures or tents on the premises were either completely destroyed or sustained heavy damage. Unfortunately, two individuals who were camping out before the last day of the New York State Fair died that night. A 26 year old man was killed when he was struck by flying debris from a nearby building. A 38 year old man, who was a vendor at the Fair, was killed when a large tree fell upon the tent where he was sleeping. Seven other individuals had minor injuries, mostly cuts and scrapes from flying glass. Three large flag poles at the entrance to the Fairgrounds were bent to almost a 45 degree angle from the force of the wind.