OAKLAND CITY, IN (WFIE) -
A parade at the Sweet Corn Festival was taking place as the winds started blowing and large hail pounded folks along the parade route, including Wirth Park, the site of the festival.
A generator is lighting up all of the mess left behind by the storm.
Vendors from several states had set up their booths. A couple from near Terre Haute had a lemon shakeup stand. They said the storm came so quickly, they barely had time to get into their car. One of the only places to seek shelter in the park. They said their tent blew away.
Organizers tell 14 News some of the vendors have already counted their losses and packed up what they could and left.
John Ferry, the festival organizer, tells 14 News there were 40 groups of people registered for the parade and 65 people reported some sort of minor injury like bruises and scrapes from the hail.
Some of them were on floats, others on top of convertibles.
The parade was set to take off at 6, and they started at 5:50 to try to beat the storm. By the time the sirens went off, they say it was too late to take cover.
The parade started near the university and was set to end at Wirth Park. The park is also the site of the new Community Center.
Anybody and everybody who needs help is welcome in the park throughout the night. Officials say they will be serving food.
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
Source: Paul Higgs
Source: Paul Higgs
Source: Paul Higgs
