Archive for Friday, June 6, 2008
Storm shortens festival
Severe weather weakens before reaching area
Adam Gross, Topeka, holds down "Paul and Chrissie's Free Stuff Tent" on Thursday, June 5, 2008 during a thunderstorm at the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival.
June 6, 2008
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2008 Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
The fifth annual Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival starts on June 5th and runs through June 8th. Organizers are planning on more than 13,500 guests, which would make Clinton State Park the second-largest city in Douglas County until the festival wraps up. See videos, photo galleries, the Wak Talk blog, Best Bets, and more about the Wakarusa Fest.
On the street
How do you feel about having the Wakarusa Festival in the Lawrence area?
I think it’s great. It brings a lot of interesting people that come from all across the country. It’s shades of Woodstock, and it’s good for the Lawrence economy.
Photo Gallery
June 5, 2008 Severe Weather
A line of heavy storms moved through Douglas County and much of Kansas June 5, 2008.
Past Event
Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival 2008, Day 2
featuring The Flaming Lips / Cake / Built to Spill / Blackalicious / Paw
- When: Friday, June 6, 2008, 10 a.m.
- Where: Clinton State Park, Clinton Lake, Lawrence
- Cost: $49 - $469
- More on this event....
2008 Wakarusa Video Portraits
A severe storm moved into Lawrence Thursday night as expected, although it had weakened from earlier in the day in central Kansas.
The storm did cause an early end to the opening day of the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival at Clinton State Park.
About 7:45 p.m. festival organizers along with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office began to warn festivalgoers to seek shelter where they could.
"Many people have either gone back to their tents or their cars," said Tasha Riggins, the festival's media coordinator. "I've seen some people leave, but most people have gone back to their tents or cars to ride out the storm."
Emergency officials and dispatchers did not report any major damage in the area Thursday night.
Many who drove from out of state for the festival were left to either secure their tents and wait out the storm at the park or scramble to find a place in town.
Dick Schaeffer, of Belton, Mo., said Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical personnel told him he could seek shelter at a fire department.
Mission resident Jeff Millikan, 47, tried to hold down his tent with extra weight: a cooler, a bicycle and more rope.
Katie Maloney, 24, and Caitlyn Morris, 21, who came to Lawrence from Pennsylvania, were frustrated with the lack of options and said they didn't receive much information about safety precautions.
"I don't like it because I was worried about tornadoes and stuff before I even came to Kansas," Maloney said.
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued advance warning in the state about a severe storm that could produce an outbreak of tornadoes. Lawrence escaped the wrath of a tornado, but received the brunt of strong winds, rain and reports of pea-sized hail.
By 11 p.m. Thursday, Westar Energy reported nearly 250 power outages in Douglas County. A storm spotter reported wind gusts up to 70 mph two miles north of Lawrence.
"Part of the area did catch tornadoes, and fortunately in the far east here, we did not, other than a few brief things," said John Woynick, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Topeka.
With advance warning, Wakarusa organizers posted signs at the festival entrance for people to be aware of a severe storm and also handed out fliers with ways to stay informed and what they could do.
After the storm had passed, festival organizers and the sheriff's office were assessing the situation to see whether the concert could continue Thursday night, but lightning was still being spotted. Riggins said she didn't immediately hear about any weather-related incidents.
More like this
- Several tornadoes sweep across region 3 comments / June 6, 2008
- Wakarusa trying to keep it green, clean 29 comments / June 7, 2008
- KU offers aid to students after storm 1 comment / June 13, 2008
- Expect severe weather today 78 comments / June 5, 2008
- Storms strike again in state 4 comments / June 13, 2008
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6 June 2008
at 6:03 a.m.
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tunahelper (Anonymous) says…
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
6 June 2008
at 6:24 a.m.
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labmonkey (Anonymous) says…
Those poor hippies (although I would love to see Cake).
6 June 2008
at 7:54 a.m.
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kansas_o_kansas (Anonymous) says…
Action hippie! And I say that with love…
6 June 2008
at 8:09 a.m.
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autie (Anonymous) says…
Well thats the one thing about many hippies, they have the ability to adapt, improvise and overcome. Who else could have ever thought to make a pipe out of a toilet paper roll?Hope they get to rock on this weekend…it sounds like a good time..maybe not as much good time as Winfield though.
6 June 2008
at 8:26 a.m.
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toe (Anonymous) says…
It was not as bad a storm as it was predicted to be, fortunately.
6 June 2008
at 8:29 a.m.
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KansasPerson (Anonymous) says…
Looking forward to hearing from multidisciplinary, TOB, and everyone…. hope there was no damage to homes, dogs, trees, little tykes tables, studs etc. :)
6 June 2008
at 8:58 a.m.
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cheeseburger (Anonymous) says…
cool-Given that there is minimal shade and no air conditioning out there, don't you think the months of July and Sept. would be a little harsh for a multiple-day event like Waka? Sounds like your plan would certainly result in an increase in heat-related emergencies.
6 June 2008
at 9:04 a.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
July is too hot. September is school. June is just fine. A little rain has never hurt anyone. That, and there is no guarantee July wouldn't have the chance for bad storms as well. Outdoor event. I didn't go this year, but a few buddies did. The sherrif went around saying storms were coming with big winds and they tightened up camp, hopped in the car, gave me a call, and we had a few beers at Free State. Storm blew through, rained a bit, we said good night and they headed back out. I haven't heard from them today, but it didn't appear that winds were that bad. Festival back on.
6 June 2008
at 9:08 a.m.
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storm (Anonymous) says…
A lovely bonding time it was last night, not quite like Woodstock. It was really nice after the ten minute downpour.
6 June 2008
at 9:54 a.m.
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Boston_Corbett (Anonymous) says…
Cool's ideas are generally idiotic.
6 June 2008
at 9:59 a.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
Those who were betting on the table falling over..it did!All else is in place. Neighbor's new fence (blown down in previous storm in May) is either:gate blown open, or one section is off. I'm guessing the former.Also note, no festival items ended up in my back yard.So long shot bets didn't pay off.
6 June 2008
at 10:02 a.m.
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Boeing (Anonymous) says…
What's with the Kiribati flag in the picture? I didn't know it was a hippy haven…
6 June 2008
at 11:12 a.m.
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geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…
It ties the room together.
6 June 2008
at 11:48 a.m.
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Gootsie (Anonymous) says…
I learned in charm school that you shouldn't discuss weather because it is boring.I think they were wrong.peace out.HippieGoots
6 June 2008
at 12:46 p.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
“I don't like it because I was worried about tornadoes and stuff before I even came to Kansas,” Maloney said.Do us a favor: Stop your whining or don't come back. Don't expect anyone else to hold your hand during natural disasters.
6 June 2008
at 12:48 p.m.
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fourkitties (Anonymous) says…
I saw Cake back in 1997 when it was called the Jayhawk Music Festival. I had cancer that year and my hair was gone. I was wearing a ball cap to keep the sun off of my newly bald head. I had been close to the stage but backed off when the mosh pit started. Even so, I somehow got my hat knocked off. I was so embarrassed at my bald head. I was 14 with no hair. everyone looked at me like I was nuts. I told someone I had to get my cap back and he literally dove into the mosh pit under all the people jumping a retrieved my hat. I now think maybe he knew from the look of my well known prednisone swelled face and missing hair that he knew what was going on. Thank you, whomever you were.
6 June 2008
at 2:10 p.m.
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Fort_Aubrey (Anonymous) says…
“Do us a favor: Stop your whining or don't come back. Don't expect anyone else to hold your hand during natural disasters.”Jeez. What an attitude, Confrontation. These kids are OK. The festival is good. Tornados are scary to non Midwesterners. Give it a rest. Be nice to someone today.
6 June 2008
at 2:43 p.m.
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Soapdish (Anonymous) says…
Awwww Fourkitties…that's a sad, sweet story. Hope things have been going better for you since…
6 June 2008
at 4:11 p.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
“Emergency officials and dispatchers did not report any major damage in the area Thursday night.”Good thing there's global warming. Otherwise with a larger temperature difference between the poles and the equator, there may have been a large number of tornadoes and damage.
6 June 2008
at 7:02 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
ft aubrey is right.Back when Pepper Rogers (the KU Orange Bowl Football coach) moved into town, my sister got a great laugh. Terri, his daughter, had been through hurricanes, and other natural disasters that we don't get here.She was afraid of tornadoes, and sis thought that hilarious.(In comparison to hurricanes)
6 June 2008
at 7:54 p.m.
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George_Braziller (Anonymous) says…
Wow, what a suprise. b3 posts yet another bitter comment. Do you actually have a life or is posting one sentence nastiness on public forums it? Is there anything that you like or appreciate — it seems like the answer is “no.”Pull away from the keyboard and look out the window. There is anything outside of your four sad walls?
6 June 2008
at 11:44 p.m.
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bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…
Boston_Corbett(Anonymous)says:Cool's ideas are generally idiotic.–check!***yes, thunder/lightning/tornados are scare to outlanders. you guys go visit california during an earthquake, then have the local yocals make fun of you, too. am glad nobody got hurt in the weather. there certainly was potential for bad stuff. ***one asked above about how we weathered the storm. north lawrence here. power went out twice, less than five seconds each time. very heavy rain, wow the lightning/thunder was incredible. houses hit by lightning. not ours though.
8 June 2008
at 1:26 a.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Fort_Aubrey: These punks were complaining that they weren't cuddled through the storm. Feel free to leave on the bus with them.
11 June 2008
at 12:18 p.m.
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GratefulSistah (Anonymous) says…
Thursday night was a fabulous night. No music, and yeah, that stunk, but there I was with some of my best friends, chillin at Waka. We laid on the ground and watched the best freak out lightening show ever, drank beer and Mojitos AND water while listening to live music in a pop-up, and when the rain was done, we hula hooped in the mud. It was a spectacular evening! (Oh, and by the way, I shower daily, thanks, as do my dreadheaded friends. Maybe you're smelling your own rotten attitude about hippies…)