Rain, Standing Water Prompts Wood Dale To Cancel Prairie Fest Today
(CBS) -- Northwest suburban Wood Dale has cancelled its Prairie Fest for at least today because of flooding.
It's been a year since a 35-year-old man died at the fest when a storm brought down a tent.
Wood Dale's Deputy Police Chief Mike Rivas says they only got about a third of an inch of rain, which doesn't sound like a lot.
"But it did rain very hard for about half an hour to 45 minutes. And in doing so, that's what caused a lot of the standing water we're currently experiencing," he tells WBBM's Steve Miller.
Wood Dale Prairie Fest has been cancelled for tonight July 28, 2016 due to weather. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
— Wood Dale Police (@WoodDalePolice) July 28, 2016
Rivas says the Prairie Fest site is flooded with standing water at the main entrance and also where many of the rides are.
Prairie Fest was supposed to run through the weekend.
"We might have a similar weather forecast for tomorrow. So, we have to hold off on making any determination on what we're doing the rest of the weekend," Rivas says.
The family of a 35-year-old man sued last year after he was killed by a tent pole at Prairie Fest. The lawsuit claimed people were "inappropriately encouraged" to seek shelter in tents when a storm arrived.