Severe Hailstorm Hits Rodeo Houston: Lack of Warning and Preparation Raises Concern
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park was recently hit by a severe hailstorm, leaving many attendees shocked and unprepared. The incident has raised concerns about the lack of warning and precautions taken to protect those outside on the rodeo grounds.
According to ABC13 Meteorologist Elyse Smith, the severe storms were being tracked all afternoon on the day of the incident. The warning for the severe-warned storm that eventually hit NRG Park was issued at 4:18 p.m., with hail starting to fall around 4:38 p.m. This provided about a 20-minute lead time between the warning and the arrival of the severe conditions at the rodeo.
When contacted for a response, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo stated that they use an extensive weather reporting service to ensure preparedness. They mentioned that in the event of severe weather, they would determine which safety measures are needed, such as closing temporary venues or evacuating the grounds.
However, questions have been raised as to why these plans were not put into action on the day of the hailstorm. There is also no information on the rodeo’s website about what to do in case of severe weather, with the only mention of weather being related to rain and not thunderstorms or severe conditions.
NRG Park, the host site for the rodeo, also released a statement emphasizing their collaboration with event clients to enact safety protocols during adverse weather conditions. Despite these statements, both NRG Park and the rodeo have not provided specific details about their severe weather plans.
Moreover, it was confirmed that NRG Park is not a StormReady facility, as designated by the National Weather Service. Being StormReady would ensure that the site is fully equipped to handle any weather emergency. This raises concerns about the preparedness of the venue in handling severe weather events.
The incident at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo serves as a reminder of the importance of being adequately prepared for severe weather events, especially when hosting large outdoor gatherings. Hopefully, this incident will prompt organizers to review and improve their severe weather plans to ensure the safety of all attendees in the future.