Illinois State Fair Reopens After Friday Flooding In Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS/AP) -- The Illinois State Fair reopened Saturday morning after record rainfall forced organizers to close early Friday and cancel the Grandstand concert.
Fair organizers said the hardest-hit area was a campground, where access continues to be restricted. Officials say the Red Cross helped people from five campers and there were no injuries reported.
Many of the owners of the damaged campers are exhibitors and their family members, who stay on the grounds to tend to their livestock around the clock.
The National Weather Service reported that Friday set a record for the most amount of rain in a calendar day in Springfield.
The 5.59 inches that fell on Friday breaks the previous record of 5.44 inches on Sept. 8, 1926.
Organizers said crews will be available at the fairgrounds to help vendors who may have been impacted by the storm. Some racing events have been postponed, canceled or rescheduled due to conditions.
"Overnight crews were dispatched to buildings and barns to assess the facilities for any damage or flooding," said State Fair Manager Kevin Gordon. "At first light another round of crews entered the Happy Hollow area to survey for any damage. At this point, we are confident it is once again safe to welcome fairgoers back to the fairgrounds."
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