Mayfest prepares for severe weather

[TexasStooge]

By DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8

FORT WORTH, Texas — It's Mayfest time in Fort Worth, and organizers said they are prepared for the possibility of severe weather.

While conditions were ideal at midday on Thursday, Mayfest and destructive weather are as familiar as freezing conditions at the Fort Worth Stock Show in January and early February.

In 1995, the worst hailstorm in Texas history hit the annual outdoor festival in Trinity Park. This year, lightning and wind have already hindered preparations—and more storms are in the forecast.

Vendors and work crews continued final preparations for Mayfest as soon as skies cleared from the second night of thunderstorms.

'Cajun' Mike Gellner was forced to make repairs to his crawfish stand. "It picked it up and moved it about a foot-and-a-half, snapped a couple poles," he said.

That wasn't much. Cajun Mike was here 11 years ago, when his stand survived the great hailstorm of 1995.

Now recognized as the world's costliest non-tornadic thunderstorm, it resulted in damage totaling more than $1 billion.

"There was really no warning at all; it just came upon us within no time. By the time sirens went off and it was time to evacuate the park, it was already there," Gellner said. " "It just came out of nowhere, real fast. Nobody expected that."

Dozens of people were injured in the storm - the hail was truly baseball sized.

It shattered car windows, leaving children and their parents with no place to turn.

"We're just thankful that we are still here today, and can enjoy what we have," said Mayfest construction worker Jamie MacCammond.

This year, modern equipment and weather experts will monitor conditions continuously. Evacuation plans are in place for any emergency.

Gates were scheduled to open at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.