My accounts of the BVJ storm!

From our family........Dana was working the event, Daylan(Kirsten), Adam, Evan, Danica(the kids) & myself were ticket holders for the event!

THE ITALIC SECTION of this post HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF 15 MINUTES!

• the boys were at their camp stall
• Danica & I(with the 3 little ones)were on our way to the event for the evening!
• We met at the Tim Hortons near the BJV location(maybe 6-8 blocks away).....the sun was shining(around 5:45)!
• We could see dark clouds what appeared to be FAR AWAY, and the radio announcers from BJV announced it looked like it was going to miss Camrose! (5:50)
• I called Daylan to make sure(if the weather got worse when we were inside)if we needed help to LEAVE QUICK he could give us a hand(wanted to make sure we knew where each other were)!
• We drove to the campground area where the boys were to say hi(and see all the fun that going on in the party area)! By the time we got there the wind had REALLY picked up, and all the campers were in their trailers/tents/vehicles!
• We decided we would go to our house and sit out the wind for a bit, maybe a half hour....then head back to the event!
• By the time we drove home(8-10 minutes)Daniel had heard from Dana(or maybe on the news)that part of the main stage had blown over!
• Then the chaos started..........trying to find out where everyone else was! By this time the cell phones were not working, then the power went out!
• When standing outside at our house the sound of sirens was constant for quite a while......not good!
• We hadn't heard from Dana so we were wondering how she was handling the stress of all of this........being right there in the thick of things! Proud of you Dana....you did good!
• The staff of the event were all gathered in the VIP tent......and held there, it was a long time, not sure maybe an hour+!
• The boys(Kirsten)made it to our place!
• When Dana(& Michelle)got home they told us about the nightmare they went through........see pictures below! Tables, chairs, food flying everywhere........people running, laying on the ground, sirens, emergency crews EVERYWHERE!
• The hopes that the event carry on later that evening, or maybe even on Sunday vanished quickly!
• We were trying to locate 2 of Adam & Evans friends so they could spend the night here......we knew they were okay, but it was a buggar to actually find them! As it turned out they didn't come over, but Daylan & Evan did go and see them......so from our end, all ended well!
• Never in my life have I seen the weather change this quickly, and I'm old(you all know I'm 50 right...LOL)!
• Thankful to be safe & sound and only suffering from a bit of chaos & confusion.....many others have much more to deal with!

It has been reported, the organizors of the Jamboree are in constant contact with the weather reporters during the event(over the whole weekend)! They recieved word of storm at 5:55, they began to evacuate at 5:57, and the stage went over at 6:00. This is mind boggling to me......add to that 1000's of people trying to get to safety(many of them intocitated).....this spells panic, confusion, chaos.........it seems to me this could have easily been much, much worse! !

I haven't heard the number of people that were in & around the event area, but I am honestly amazed many more people were not seriously hurt!