Managing

Risk Management of the Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse



Abstract
On August 13, 2011, the outdoor stage at the Indiana State Fair collapsed due to severe thunderstorms, killing 7 people and injuring 58. The fair is an outdoor concert held by Sugarland, after which 44 lawsuits were brought against the duo. Then, Thornton Tomasetti and Witt Associates, relatively a risk assessment company and a crisis managing company were delegated to investigate the reason of the collapse, as well as the behaviors of the duo by the Indiana State Fair Commission (ISFC). This report aims to make a brief risk management analysis of the event, and considers the responsibility of parties involved and the impact of the event.
Key Words: Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse, Sugarland, risk management

Contents
1. Introduction 3
2. Risk Management Procedures 3
3. Responsibility of Two Sides 4
4. Impact on Future 5
5. Conclusion 5
References 6




















1. Introduction

Sugarland is a famous American country music duo, founded in 2002. On August 13, 2011, the outdoor stage at the Indiana State Fair, which was an outdoor concert held by Sugarland, collapsed due to severe thunderstorms, killing 7 people and injuring 58 others. Although high winds and thunderstorms were forecasted, according to the National Weather Service, the managers of Sugarland just put the show mere 5 minutes off. The structure of the stage suddenly collapsed, till when the sponsor had not announced the show being called off. Seven audiences died in the hospital from severe injuries. After the collapse, 44 suits were filed against Sugarland by family and friends of those killed in the stage collapse. The ISFC hired Thornton Tomasetti (TT) which is an experienced assessment firm in investigating collapse in the past important events like 911. (CNN U.S, 2011) In addition, Witt Associates was hired to investigate the State Fair's preparedness and response to the incident. In April, 2012, a report on the fair...