Indiana State Fair Collapse: A Case Study

In August of 2011, a stage at the Indiana State Fair collapsed during a storm that produced high winds and rain (Crandall, Parnell & Spillan, 2014). As the storm descended upon the fair, the crowd which was gathered to watch the band Sugarland, was horrified when the stage suddenly collapsed. The roof and beams fell, crushing several people toward the front (Crandall, et al., 2014). Ultimately, this event claimed seven lives.

After the event, the crisis was analyzed and it was determined that there was not a clear one person in charge of making decisions regarding the weather and any impact it may have on the concert and of the fair in general (Crandall, et al., 2014). Although fair officials were informed of the storms impending approach, they could not agree on whether to cancel the concert, as there was no person who had the final say. The decision was ultimately passed around from official to official, each with a different suggestion, from continuing the concert, to delaying it, to cancelling it altogether (Crandall, et al., 2014). As the storm raged, the Captain of the

First, the integrity of the stage was evaluated and it was discovered that the company who provided the stage advised that it not be used in winds exceeding 25mph. The storm produced winds in excess of 60mph (Crandall, et al., 2014). It was also uncovered that there are few regulations or codes which apply to temporary structures, such as the concert stage in Indiana and across the United States. Upon discovering that the stage was not subject to much scrutiny, the Indiana State Fair hired an International Engineering firm to investigate the cause of the stage’s collapse (Crandall, et al., 2014). It was determined that the stage was not adequately designed, built, or inspected thus causing it’s integrity to be challenged and unable to withstand winds exceeding 43mph (Crandall, et al.,