For the past week I have been working in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico preparing for the Central American and Caribbean Games. These are the games used to find the next Olympic teams from the participating twenty countries
The ramps and stage before the storm.
My video and sound system (One of two I am working on)
The opening ceremony for these games was to be tonight (July 17, 2010). Hundreds of young dancers and performers have been rehearsing for months for this ceremony! Last night was their final full dress rehearsal and the show was set for 8:30 PM tonight.
The north end before the storm, notice the video screen in the center.
The orchastra tent when all was good.
At approximately 12:30 PM today, while I was standing in the control room over looking the stadium (talking to my wife on the phone) a micro burst hit the stadium, I watched the wind go from a gentle breeze to hurricane force in just seconds! As the wind continued to build, it sounded like a train was running through the stadium. Tents and awnings were beginning to blow apart! All of a sudden the wind go REAL intense and the stage began to lift! It was at this same moment when a 70′ tall scaffolding at the north end of the stadium collapsed on a busy sidewalk and street!
The north end two minutes after the collapse!
I could not believe what I just witnessed! My first thought was all the people on the sidewalk! I had just driven past that sidewalk and had hundreds of people on it! I rushed down to the end of the stadium to see if I could see if any body was trapped under the wreckage. I could see a few cars but it didn’t see anybody rushing to free trapped people.
The stage after the storm.
All that work down the drain!
The collaped orcistra tent.
The werckage
More wreckage.
Just minutes after the collapse!
One of three cars in the werckage.
Later on I was told by the people I am working for that several people were hurt. They did not know how serious.
Unfortunately, one American (working for the lighting company) had three finger chopped off. He had just stepped out of the production room and placed his hand on a wall. At that very same moment a metal plank from one of the lighting scaffolds 70′ up, crashed into his hand removing the fingers. His buddies told my they immediately wrapped his hand and packed the finger in ice and rushed him to the hospital. Hopefully they can reattach his finger.
While talking to the lighting people, we discussed the wind loads placed on this scaffolding. A 30′ video screen was hung in the center of the scaffold. This screen is made of light bars, so it is more like a transparent grill than a solid screen. But the video people placed a sheet of solid plastic behind the screen. If this was unknown to the engineer that designed the scaffold, that would be a HUGE problem.
I am now sitting in my hotel on permanent hold, waiting to hear what will happen with this show.
Tags: caribbean games, Central American and Caribbean Games, daktronics, Mayaguez 2010, Puerto Rico
