Tornado at Dallas Practice facility- Jerry Jones just said at Kentucky Derby

[ljs]

He was just interviewed on NBC, he is at the Kentucky Derby. One injured so far, bunch of rookies, coaches and ufda's there.

a building collapsed.

anyone else see other reports on it yet?

[LLandryistheshiz]

I haven't heard anything. But that's horrible, I don't care if it is Dallas. Hope everyone is all right.

[Burgundy Burner]

Yep. Just saw it.

jerruh is at the derby looking for a new qb. He knows which end to look for... :D

[DWinzit]

Tornado Hits Cowboys’ Practice Facility (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/05/02/tornado-hits-cowboys-practice-facility/)

Posted by Mike Florio on May 2, 2009, 4:53 p.m.
We’d never dream that watching NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby would yield anything newsworthy for the site.
Unfortunately, it did.
During an interview of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones by Bob Costas, Jones disclosed that a tornado hit the team’s practice facility in Irving within the last half hour.
The team’s rookies were at the building for a minicamp practice, along with coaches, front-office employees, and some members of the media. There are no fatalities, but at least one injury.
Stay tuned.


http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/

[DWinzit]

How did Jerry look...shaken, shocked, worried, unfazed?

[chrisavery72]

wow. hope everyone got out ok.

[spjunkies]

Holy crap they just showed pics on NBC and the place looks terrible.

I hope the injuries aren't too serious :(

[Vicious]

wow that's freaking awful, a god damn Tornado? Hope no one gets seriously injured.

[DCFDSKIN11]

A tornado has reportedly swept through Irving, TX., pretty much destroying the Dallas Cowboys practice facility.

ALL players and staff are accounted for, however there are some injuries.

Thoughts and prayers go out to all involved..

HTTR

:point2sky

[STBonecrusher21]

That's terrible.

Hopefully those injuries aren't too major.

Hope all is well in Big D.

[Oldskool]

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/05/cowboys-indoor-facility-collapses-during.html

Cowboys' indoor facility collapses during practice
3:38 PM Sat, May 02, 2009 | Permalink |
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Share photos on twitter with Twitpic

The afternoon practice ended in horrifying fashion when the Cowboys' indoor facility collapsed.

While a violent thunderstorm pounded rain down on the roof, the lights started shaking back and forth. Then chaos broke out, as the facility collapsed and players, coaches, reporters and team personnel scrambled for safety.

Several people were trapped under the wreckage. Police and emergency personnel have arrived on the scene.

More to come.

UPDATE: According to a Cowboys spokesman, at least four members of the team's support staff are being taken to the hospital. All players and coaches are believed to be safe. Rescue personnel is still searching through the debris.

[BigMike619]

hope everyone made it out safely.

[SpringfieldSkins]

I'm torn between two possible responses...


I'll choose: I hope all is well in Dallas and that nobody is seriously injured.

[SkinsHokieFan]

At first I thought this was a joke

Awful news. Prayers to all injured and hopefully everyone is ok

[STBonecrusher21]

I'm torn between two possible responses...


I'll choose: I hope all is well in Dallas and that nobody is seriously injured.

You chose correctly.

We're talking about people's lives in this situation, not football.

You seem to have the priority in order, hopefully everyone else does that responds to this.

[skinsince72]

Whoa! Not good. Hope everyone ends up ok.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

I thought it was a joke too, Ish.

I hope the people hospitalized have only very minor injuries that can be patched up quick or they just want to observe them for a bit.

That really sucks. Quite scary-sounding too. I lived in Oklahoma as a little kid for a year. Tornado Nights are awful to behold.

[J-bomb]

What does it have to do with the skins? Good news no ones hurt but wrong forum.

[BigMike619]

this is in ATN as well...

[addicted]

Wow holy crap, hope everyone's ok.

[Evilskinzfan47]

Glad to hear that theres no really serious injuries.That couldve been terrible.

[Travdaskin]

Well, that sucks, hopefully everyone is ok, assuming everyone is ok after this, I STILL HATE DALLAS (But I wouldn't want anyone hurt)...

[wilco_holland]

that's bad.....wouldn't it be logical that a trainings bubble in Texas would be tornado-proof?

Hopefully nobody is serious injured.

[HawaiianTime]

A tornado has reportedly swept through Irving, TX., pretty much destroying the Dallas Cowboys practice facility.

ALL players and staff are accounted for, however there are some injuries.

Thoughts and prayers go out to all involved..

HTTR

:point2sky


Thanks for the heads up on this one. Like STB21 said, we can crack the jokes later, right now there are lives at stake, and right now that's what I'm praying for.

[jferraro]

lol!!!! :dallasuck go caps!!!!!

Edit: my bad, didn't know anyone was inside

[KNGwithOUTaCrwN]

im watching the news about this right now.

[SD Skins fan]

I'm watching the video now. Pretty scary. The players are digging through the debris to find people.

[Park City Skins]

lol!!!! :dallasuck
So the roof of the Cowboys training facility caves in and as of now,injuries some people. And this is funny to you? :doh:



Been some rough weather down there this past week. Hope and pray that all come out of this okay down there.

[Mickalino]

I'm torn between two possible responses...


I'll choose: I hope all is well in Dallas and that nobody is seriously injured.

You chose correctly.

We're talking about people's lives in this situation, not football.

You seem to have the priority in order, hopefully everyone else does that responds to this.


I'm surprised that it was even a consideration to choose the other response, given the threat to peoples' lives.

[jflow78]

I'm watching the video now. Pretty scary. The players are digging through the debris to find people.

Wow, that is really scary. Hopefully everyone is okay. I hope their staff and players are alright.

[Koolblue13]

Not even a tornado could clean away the stink of that team.

I hope they are all okay of course, but I'll still make my crack.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

lol!!!! :dallasuck go caps!!!!!
Way to be a scumbag.

[royallypwned]

Holy ****. I just moved to Valley Ranch two weeks ago, and I now live just down the street from the practice facility. Well I was about to go to the Tom Thumb (have to drive right by the facility to get there) and I go outside to see it raining. So I go back into my apartment to wait out the storm. It soon begins raining sideways with huge gusts of wind of about 70 mph. My balcony nearly flooded (3rd floor). And then I hear ambulance after ambulance like there was an endless conveyor belt of emergency vehicles.


This was the facility last night:

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3531/valleyranch058.jpg

And I took these about 30 minutes ago:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2049/valleyranch064.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8809/valleyranch061.jpg

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/651/valleyranch062.jpg

[Skin'Em84]

Will wait till everyone is okay before I make jokes..

Hope everyone is okay, because their lives are more important than football
...
and I want to make jokes..(bad taste?)

[SpringfieldSkins]

I'm surprised that it was even a consideration to choose the other response, given the threat to peoples' lives.


You know me Mick, I'm a bit of a douche. I still have a heart though. I hope that everyone involved makes it through this OK. If I was a praying man, I'd say a prayer for not only the staff but the citizens surrounding the area as well.

[Backpack3r]

Cant wait to use this as a punchline in my freestyles tonite at the bar

[keeastman]

Yowza, looking at the pictures of the collapsed dome on TV. That's insane. Obviously I hate the Cowboys, but I wouldn't want any of them or their coaching staff to be injured. I hope everyone ends up okay with this, that's really scary.

[SkinsTerps26]

i guess god was mad at the team also

[Mickalino]

Way to be a scumbag.

You know me Mick, I'm a bit of a douche. I still have a heart though. I hope that everyone involved makes it through this OK. If I was a praying man, I'd say a prayer for not only the staff but the citizens surrounding the area as well.

Cant wait to use this as a punchline in my freestyles tonite at the bar

Yea, the proper thing in this case is....

1) Wait til everyone is okay

2) Wait a couple days

[mistertim]

lol!!!! :dallasuck go caps!!!!!

Dude. :doh:

Anyway, hopefully everyone there is ok and the injuries are minor. Must have been scary as hell.

[royallypwned]

There were about 10 minutes left in the afternoon rookie practice when it collapsed.

[Travdaskin]

i guess god was mad at the team also

God don't like UGLY!!!!! (I couldn't resist it was set up perfectly, I really do hope they are OK, no one should die, sports isn't all that anyways)...

[Mickalino]

There were about 10 minutes left in the afternoon rookie practice when it collapsed.

CNN says 7 injured, 1 critically.

And according to CNN, it wasn't a tornado, it was a heavy thunderstorm

[royallypwned]

lol!!!! :dallasuck go caps!!!!!
There's always gotta be one. :doh:

[royallypwned]

So they were practicing at the time the facility collapsed, and there was only 1 injury, and no deaths ?
There were four staff injuries (last report I saw), including the new special teams coach, and numerous minor injuries.

[keeastman]

There's always gotta be one. :doh:
Yeah, sorry about that

[royallypwned]

Yeah, sorry about that
Most everyone has been respectful. Every fan base will have a person who responds like that. It's just the way it is. :)

[DRSmith]

Hope they are all okay, but I do not think anyone will be calling them God's team anytime soon

[royallypwned]

There are now 10 confirmed injuries.

[Bang]

NFL Network just showed a video from inside the facility as it collapses. Pretty interesting.
They're saying CNN reports 7 injured, 1 critically. That's about it.

~Bang

[sableholic]

hopefully the critically injured person ends up recovering. I can't believe some people cracking jokes about this.

[Bang]

How can anything people do or say surprise anyone anymore?

~Bang

[RenegadeTK]

NFL Network just showed a video from inside the facility as it collapses. Pretty interesting.
They're saying CNN reports 7 injured, 1 critically. That's about it.

~Bang

hope everyone comes out alright

[royallypwned]

There was someone who may have a punctured lung, CBS reported in Dallas just now.

[royallypwned]

Another wave of storms is getting ready to roll right through Irving again. Terrific.

[BigMike619]

dang..i hope this gets better.

[SpringfieldSkins]

Another wave of storms is getting ready to roll right through Irving again. Terrific.


My hope goes out to all of you guys down there. Hopefully everyone is well prepared now.

[Gracelander]

Wow, that is awful news, hope everybody comes out of it ok.

[LizKauai]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/02/cowboys.practice.field.collapse/index.html

Prayers for all.

[Califan007]

Holy **** :(...prayers and good thoughts for those in Dallas that were effected. Terrible news, definitely...

[MD.C RedskinsFan]

Tornadoes just seem so scary to me and Texas seems to have a lot of them.

I've never actually seen a tornado except in pictures and I don't want to ever see one.

In fact I think the only time I've ever even come close to seeing one was when I was in Dallas. The sky just looked wrong. And of course there were reports of a few tornadoes in the same area.

They're so tall. Tall rotating column of death.
How can one live amongst these things?

[Redskins:Victory_or_Death]

Prayers to all. Wow... :(

[LandoverLex]

Wow this is crazy, I hope everything turns out alright, Once we get the all clear can we begin making jokes?

[royallypwned]

good video of the collapse:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/02/cowboys.practice.field.collapse/index.html?iref=mpstoryview#cnnSTCVideo

wow :(

[Terence Newman 41]

good video of the collapse:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/02/cowboys.practice.field.collapse/index.html?iref=mpstoryview#cnnSTCVideo

wow :(

Simply unreal.

God let everyone be all right.

[SonnyRules]

Godspeed to the injured. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.

[TheDoyler23]

Hopefully nobody is seriously hurt.

Talk about your bad omens.

[SkinsGuy]

I just looked at the damage on FOX News.

Man, that facility was FLATTENED.

Hopefully, none of the injuries are life-threatning

[Blondie]

I absolutely feel for these people.

A tornado hit one of the schools in my district on Monday morning.

One teacher injured.....no kids.

Took off part of the roof.

It is very scary..........and I hope no one hurt.

[Mickalino]

There are now 10 confirmed injuries.

any names yet ?

[RedskinInExile]

Wow this is crazy, I hope everything turns out alright, Once we get the all clear can we begin making jokes?

They're saying that one person was critically injured. But yeah, this reminds me a lot of when Dick Cheney shot that guy in the face. Everyone was hoping that he'd pull through-- mainly because no one wanted an accident victim to die, but wanting to make jokes about it came in at a close second.

So, I hope everyone makes a full and swift recovery. These are people's lives, and that far outwieghs any football rivalry. But I may also have ulterior reasons...

[Mickalino]

So, I hope everyone makes a full and swift recovery. These are people's lives, and that far outwieghs any football rivalry. ...

not only that, but it must have been scary as hell to go thru that.....i'm sure if any of the jokesters here, had to go thru that, they wouldn't be crackin jokes during that ordeal

[royallypwned]

any names yet ?
So far I just know of Brett Maxie, asst defensive coach, who had a gash on his leg. Joe DeCamillas, the new ST coach suffered a blow to the head. Someone named Rich Beam (don't know who that is) suffered a possible collapsed lung.

[Spec138]

So far I just know of Brett Maxie, asst defensive coach, who had a gash on his leg. Joe DeCamillas, the new ST coach suffered a blow to the head. Someone named Rich Beam (don't know who that is) suffered a possible collapsed lung.
This was a rookies only practice right?

[TheDoyler23]

Someone named Rich Beam (don't know who that is) suffered a possible collapsed lung.

The pro golfer?

[ddub52]

Now that TO and Pac Man are gone, I hope everyone is okay :D

Seriously though, if you see these kind of weather conditions outside wouldnt you think that being in something thats basically a tent isnt the best idea?

Calling this practice off should have been a no-brainer

[HapHaszard]

That video was unbelievable, amazing that the cameramen were still videoing during that.
Does anyone know who was critically hurt, I heard that the special teams coach
Joe Dicarmillis was one of the people hurt.

We had a tornado warning here last night, sirens going off and warnings to seek immediate shelter, but no damage other than one tree down in my area.

[LizKauai]

Holy ****. I just moved to Valley Ranch two weeks ago, and I now live just down the street from the practice facility.(snip)


Wow... thanks for the images.
Prayers and good thoughts to the Cowboys.... our "fellow competitors". Don't want to see any human beings hurt.

HAIL!

[LizKauai]

Seriously though, if you see these kind of weather conditions outside wouldnt you think that being in something thats basically a tent isnt the best idea?

Calling this practice off should have been a no-brainer

Microbursts and tornadoes are unpredictable.

Our 'Skins were practicing in the rain. What if they had been struck by lightning? Hindsight would have said- "should have called off practice" but not every rain brings threats to life.

[Terence Newman 41]

FROM STAFF REPORTS
The afternoon practice at Valley Ranch in Irving ended in horrifying fashion today as the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility collapsed during a thunderstorm.
As many as six people were hospitalized, one in critical condition, with injuries suffered when the facility's bubble roof caved in, Irving City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said. None were players, he said.
"They've gone back and combed the area to make sure everyone is accounted for," Gonzalez said, "and so far everyone is accounted for."
A 33-year-old man was impaled by an object and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas in critical condition, Gonzalez said.
Two people were in serious condition at Parkland, one with a head injury and another who suffered neck and back injuries. Another person was in serious condition at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas with an open leg fracture. The others suffered injuries that were not life threatening.
At least four members of the Cowboys support staff were hospitalized, according to a Cowboys spokesman.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said special teams coach Joe DeCamillis suffered a neck injury and was taken to an area hospital by ambulance.
"He was moving his hands, and he was talking," Phillips said before leaving for the hospital.
Phillips said a couple of players suffered minor injuries.
The air-supported roof of the facility collapsed about 3:30 p.m. as a violent thunderstorm unleashed heavy rain and winds.
First the indoor lights started shaking, then chaos broke out as the roof collapsed and players, coaches, reporters and team personnel scrambled for safety.

TV cameraman Paul Riggs was inside the facility at the time when he looked up and saw the roof falling.

"I sprinted harder than I have in decades," he said.

Riggs said he got under a raised platform with several offensive linemen from the team.

"It fell around us," he said. "Then it was pure chaos."

Jason Odette, a student who lives nearby, was outside the practice facility as the storm passed through and watched in shock as the roof caved in.
"I did see the roof coming apart off the top of the building and just heard metal twisting and popping," he said. "It had that string-popping noise."

Gonzalez said officials are trying to determine what caused the collapse.

"The rain came down very abruptly and sat on the top, and that might have been what caused it," Gonzalez said.

The National Weather Service recorded wind gusts in excess of 60 mph near Valley Ranch around that time. There's no indication that a tornado touched down, weather service meteorologist Daniel Huckaby said.
"When you are talking of winds in excess of 60 mph, it can certainly cause damage," Huckaby said. "They can easily be as strong as a low-end tornado."
Duane Witzowski, who works at a gas station a block away from the facility, said powerful wind gusts pummeled the area for a few minutes starting around 3:30 p.m. The wind tore branches from trees, knocked down signs and nearly uprooted a gasoline pump at his Valero station, Witzowski said.
"It felt like we were the middle of a tornado," he said.
He said a steady stream of fire engines and ambulances were still arriving more than an hour afterward.

[Skelly Skin]

Wow, that sucks. I came in here ready to laugh at the situation, thinking no players were inside and just the facility was hit. To see the video and all the players and people scrambling, this is really a horrible situation. Sounds like everyone is ok.. hope that remains the case.

[HapHaszard]

Thanks for the update TN41

[DGreenistheBest]

Hope everyone is okay and recovers. Sounds like a pretty scary incident.

[tr1]

Hopefully everyone recovers from this event.

I've been in a couple of tornado watches where some clouds began to rotate.

Very scary.

[ddub52]

Microbursts and tornadoes are unpredictable.

Our 'Skins were practicing in the rain. What if they had been struck by lightning? Hindsight would have said- "should have called off practice" but not every rain brings threats to life.

In the mid-west high speed winds are often a good indication that a tornado might form.

Generally teams have rules for lightning. If it strikes within 5 miles, or if there are 2 or more strikes close together

I do hope everyone in Valley Ranch is okay

[EnFoRcEr_uPu]

I'm a Skins fan through and through, but I can tell you right now that while watching that video football never crossed my mind. You never wish for anyone to be hurt, especially in a scary situation like that one.

[EnFoRcEr_uPu]

Judging from that report above, sure sounds like winds over 60-mph to me...

[Mickalino]

Seriously though, if you see these kind of weather conditions outside wouldnt you think that being in something thats basically a tent isnt the best idea?

Calling this practice off should have been a no-brainer

Microbursts and tornadoes are unpredictable.

Our 'Skins were practicing in the rain. What if they had been struck by lightning? Hindsight would have said- "should have called off practice" but not every rain brings threats to life.


I think it's more of an issue with the idea of constructing these types of facilities.
You would think that with the type of revenue these teams bring in, that they would spend the money on some more durable facilities, than something similar to a car's convertible vinyl top, huh ?

[daklieb]

I think it's more of an issue with the idea of constructing these types of facilities.
You would think that with the type of revenue these teams bring in, that they would spend the money on some more durable facilities, than something similar to a car's convertible vinyl top, huh ?

that was my first though after the safety of the people.... what the hell kind of training facility is that for a team that makes that much money.... stupid!

[Ken]

I think it's more of an issue with the idea of constructing these types of facilities.
You would think that with the type of revenue these teams bring in, that they would spend the money on some more durable facilities, than something similar to a car's convertible vinyl top, huh ?

If I remember correctly, that "bubble" cost around a mil...

I would imagine that the company who built it will have some explaining to do because I'm sure it was sold as able to withstand certain weather phenomenon, such as high winds...

[Mickalino]

If I remember correctly, that "bubble" cost around a mil....

but apparently not worth a mil

[mo808]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to you folks up at the Dallas facility! God be with you all!

[Mickalino]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to you folks up at the Dallas facility! God be with you all!

Kailua, Hawaii.....that brings me back......I was born there.....lived at 72 Aikahi Loop

[Califan007]

good video of the collapse:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/02/cowboys.practice.field.collapse/index.html?iref=mpstoryview#cnnSTCVideo

wow :(
Again, holy **** :( :(..that is insane.

[brdawk20]

I just saw a pic of the collaspe. We may be rivals, but I hope the best for everyone that was hurt. It could have been much worse, and I'm glad it wasn't.

[the monk]

my thoughts and prayers are with those that were injured

[Oldskool]

Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis suffered a broken back as a result of the team's practice facility collapsing Saturday.
Scary scene all the way around. DeCamillis is reportedly lucky not to be paralyzed. Two people on the scene are in serious condition. One man was impaled by an object, another suffered a head injury, and one suffered a leg fracture. None of the injuries are life-threatening and no players were hurt.

[royallypwned]

This was a rookies only practice right?
correct, just the rookie mini camp.

The pro golfer?
I was wrong on the spelling of his name, mainly because I had no idea who he was. It is Rich Behm, and he is a scouting/video assistant. He was apparently the one who was impaled and I heard on the news that he might have suffered a punctured lung.

That video was unbelievable, amazing that the cameramen were still videoing during that.
Does anyone know who was critically hurt, I heard that the special teams coach
Joe Dicarmillis was one of the people hurt.

We had a tornado warning here last night, sirens going off and warnings to seek immediate shelter, but no damage other than one tree down in my area.
yes, the new ST coach Joe Decamillis suffered two broken vertebrae, and like I said above, Rich Behm was impaled and is the one in critical condition. At least that's what his condition was when all this was happening. Hope he's been upgraded.

And as I post this, the rain has started coming down hard in Valley Ranch again. :doh:

[royallypwned]

Here is the press conference if anyone cares:

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/multimedia_center.cfm?id=040373F3-D168-633A-08D8F1810B619F9C

[HogNose]

I'm torn between two possible responses...
I'll choose: I hope all is well in Dallas and that nobody is seriously injured.

You actually had another response to a disaster like this? Not a time for jokes...come on man. :doh: This wasn't Michael Irvin doing something stupid.


Awful situation, I hope the injured recover quickly. My thoughts and prayers to those involved. :peace1:

[HapHaszard]

Here is the press conference if anyone cares:

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/multimedia_center.cfm?id=040373F3-D168-633A-08D8F1810B619F9C

Thanks, sounds like it could have been a lot worse than it was. I'm not sure but I thing the Giants had at one time a practice facility that was very much like the one the Cowboys have. Not sure if they still have it or not.

[BillyKilmer]

So sorry for those involved get well soon !

[jnhay]

that was my first though after the safety of the people.... what the hell kind of training facility is that for a team that makes that much money.... stupid!

They obviously must not have expected it to collapse like that. I'd have to assume that the building was advertised as being more sturdy, or someone didn't follow the weather report closely enough. This is probably a situation that makes every NFL team a little more cautious.

[Bang]

SO maybe it's just me, but if I'm the Cowboys coaches, I make a note that #62 is not smart enough to keep his helmet on while a building literally collapses around him.

~Bang

[RammsteinSkins]

A guy is impaled and in critical condition and DeCamillis has a broken back but they aren't serious injuries? :wtf:

[J.Campbell17]

I just saw the video, that is really scary. I hope everyone is okay.

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone there.

[Terence Newman 41]

A guy is impaled and in critical condition and DeCamillis has a broken back but they aren't serious injuries? :wtf:

I think they meant not life threatening.

[Terence Newman 41]

David Buehler: 'My initial thought was, how many people are dead in this?'
9:09 PM Sat, May 02, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
David Buehler, the kicker/special teams player the Cowboys drafted in the fifth round, was standing on the sideline when the team's indoor facility began to collapse. He bolted out a side door and was sprinting across a practice field when a pole crashed down on him.

Buehler, dazed by a blow to his head, wriggled out from under the pole and crawled approximately 15 yards through pools of water before turning around and looking at the wreckage.

"My initial thought was, how many people are dead in this?" Buehler said tonight. "I thought I was the lucky one."

Buehler thinks he actually suffered the worst injuries among the players, although he wasn't severely hurt. He needed three stitches to close a gash on his right knee. He also has a concussion, sore neck, skin ripped off his ear and a cut on his forehead. Yet he feels very fortunate, a feeling he said was shared by his teammates.

"Guys were in shock," Buehler said, "and very thankful."

[Symbol]

I'm glad that things weren't worse. The players, coaches, and press that were there could have been in worse shape. I wasn't at home to come on to check things, but yeah my first response was to wonder how many were killed. Not a good thing and this is never a good joking time. My thoughts go out to the people injured and hope for a speedy recovery.

As for the structure, 70+ mph winds can take down a building made of brick and steel. Not many things are built to withstand those kinds of winds.

[RammsteinSkins]

I think they meant not life threatening.I understand that but bad choice of words.

[Mickalino]

As for the structure, 70+ mph winds can take down a building made of brick and steel. Not many things are built to withstand those kinds of winds.

Having lived in Florida through a few Hurricanes with 100+ mph winds, I'd have to disagree with that statement. It takes more than that.

[bubba9497]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfceast/0-10-11/Surreal-scene-at-Valley-Ranch.html


Click link for entire article


Surreal scene at Valley Ranch after roof collapses

May 2, 2009

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

IRVING -- It was easy to tell the survivors from the onlookers Saturday afternoon at the Cowboys' practice facility. Even an hour and a half after 64 mph ripped the club's air-supported practice bubble to shreds at 3:27 p.m. local time, some of the reporters who'd been inside the facility when the storm arrived had shell-shocked looks on their faces.

I had been at Saturday's morning practice and subsequent interview session, but wasn't attending the afternoon workout. When I returned to Valley Ranch at about 4:30 p.m., there were fire trucks and police cars everywhere. Gawkers were walking up and down the street taking pictures of the area where the practice bubble once sat. If you've ever driven through the area surrounding Valley Ranch, you know how prominent the structure was. It was 85 feet tall and it took up 80,000 square feet. The practice bubble looked like a gigantic white tent, and I can remember thinking how unnatural it looked to the neighborhood when it opened in the summer of 2003.

The morning practice had been held outside, but with dark clouds forming, the Cowboys held the afternoon session indoors. According to people I talked to at the scene, the first sign of trouble was when the light fixtures atop the facility started swaying violently. And then the entire building began to shake back and forth. By the time people started racing for the exits, the structure was already crumbling.

My former colleague at the Dallas Morning News, Todd Archer, was trapped in one of the doorways. Here's his account of what happened (http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/05/in-the-eye-of-the-storm.html). He credits former Texas Tech defensive end Brandon Williams and Cincinnati safety DeAngelo Smith for lifting the door frame (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/050309dnspoarcher.3e2a5d1.html) so that he could escape the building. Nick Eatman of Dallascowboys.com attempted to help Archer, but said it was like "lifting a car."

The Cowboys didn't reveal the names of the 12 people injured in the collapse, but I've confirmed that special teams coach Joe DeCamllis was transported to a local hospital for a possible neck injury. I'm also told that assistant secondary coach Brett Maxie suffered a laceration on his leg that required stitches. As I left the building Saturday night, a longtime cameraman for the local Fox affiliate, Larry Rodriguez, was about to receive treatment for a gash in his hand.

"I reached up to try and block a beam that was falling on me," he said. "But then I realized that wasn't a wise move."

Most of the reporters who were inside the building during its collapse appeared to have minor cuts and bruises. It created a surreal scene in which the reporters were being interviewed by other reporters. I reached one of the rookies by cell phone this evening, but he said players had been instructed not to talk about the situation.

In some of the TV footage following the collapse, you could see guard Greg Isdaner, a free-agent rookie out of West Virginia, holding onto a pole inside the practice bubble with a look of sheer terror on his face. According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram (http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1353967.html), Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips attempted to direct emergency crews to three people who were trapped underneath the debris.

I walked out toward the practice bubble at about 6 p.m. local time Saturday and couldn't believe the site. As one reporter who was inside the building said, "It's like a bear ripped up a tent."

When you look at the destruction, it's hard to imagine how everyone survived. It's not like a couple of steel poles fell down. Pretty much the entire framework came tumbling down. I shudder to think what the result would've been if this were a full-roster minicamp. The head of emergency services in Dallas County, Dr. Paul Pepe, said there were only three "serious" injuries and that none of them were life-threatening. And according to the latest report from the Star-Telegram, only one person will have to stay in the hospital overnight.

Team spokesman Rich Dalrymple said owner Jerry Jones had cut his trip to the Kentucky Derby short and was flying home Saturday night. The players participating in this weekend's minicamp are expected to hold meetings Sunday, but they probably won't practice. We'll obviously keep you posted on any new developments.

Update: As of 12:08 a.m. ET, a Cowboys scout named Rich Behm is undergoing surgery on his spinal cord at a Dallas hospital, according to a source close to the family. DeCamillis, who is former NFL head coach Dan Reeves' son-in-law, has two broken vertebrae, according to sources.


Video Link (http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/video?id=4129180)

[tr1]

DeCamillis, who is former NFL head coach Dan Reeves' son-in-law, has two broken vertebrae, according to sources.


I didn't know Reeves had a family connection to the pukes. It would have made his transition to the organization easy had he chosen to work with them.

[royallypwned]

Here are more photos. The aerial shots really show how big this thing was.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/pt/slideshows/2009/05/pho_050209collapse/

[royallypwned]

For those who don't know what a microburst is, or who have never seen one, it's pretty much like an upside-down tornado. Have a look... http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-253425?ref=feeds%2Foncnn

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5996/microburst.jpg


Say hello to the bastard of the whole incident.

[FrFan]

Thoughts and prayers to scouting assistant Rich Behm who will be permanently paralyzed from waist down, and his family.

[SlinginSammy HOF '63]

In the mid-west high speed winds are often a good indication that a tornado might form.


We always know the weather is going to turn very bad before it gets here. Even if it's 5-10 minutes before when a tornado or funnel cloud forms all the warning signs are there with the technology they have now. I'm just really surprised they were in there with bad weather approaching. This is a tragic event in any way and I'm just glad more people weren't hurt.



Tornadoes just seem so scary to me and Texas seems to have a lot of them.

I've never actually seen a tornado except in pictures and I don't want to ever see one.

In fact I think the only time I've ever even come close to seeing one was when I was in Dallas. The sky just looked wrong. And of course there were reports of a few tornadoes in the same area.

They're so tall. Tall rotating column of death.
How can one live amongst these things?

ya sort of get used to it. Here where I live almost every county in my area is issued 1-2 tornado warnings per year. Sometimes one touches down. Most of the time they don't. Last year I saw one on the north edge of my town here(Marion, IL) that started to organize and tried to come down from the sky but just didn't have enough strength to come more than about 1/4 of the way down.

About 11 years ago I watched one come about halfway down. I was actually on the state highway following the funnel cloud from west to east. I thought for sure it was touching down and cutting through my town here. I was sick because I had a feeling this was going to be bad, but something happened. It just suddenly went back up in the sky and didn't touch down until it got a few miles past my town here. They say it touched down out in the boonies for about 2 minutes and nothing was damaged thankfully.

Marion was tore up by one in 1982 and that killed 13 people and demolished half of the town.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/1982/photos.php

[HapHaszard]

ya sort of get used to it. Here where I live almost every county in my area is issued 1-2 tornado warnings per year.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/1982/photos.php

Last evening we had two tornado warnings here, and one the evening before.
Luck was with us and none touched down, however police reports say that 3 funnel clouds were sighted over the two days. Its a scary feeling, and they came up very quick. If it wasn't for the tornado sirens I wouldn't have even known to take cover since I live on the east side of a mountain, and they came over from the south west. It wasn't even raining 4 to 5 minutes before it happened.

[Spec138]

Having lived in Florida through a few Hurricanes with 100+ mph winds, I'd have to disagree with that statement. It takes more than that.

This. Grew up in West Texas and we had multiple storms per year that would gust up to 60 or 70. The only thing it would really do is tear shingles off and blow over my basketball goal :\

Also, I've always heard that a better warning of a tornado is actually a break in high winds.

[pjfootballer]

Thanks for the pics royally. At least everyone survived. Hope the 2 guys who were hurt the worst can recover.

[GrapeApe]

That's scary. I hope everyone makes a full recovery.

Having moved recently to Huntsville where we have weekly tornado warnings during the spring has made me much more aware of the weather than ever before. We had a similar incident last year at the Huntsville air show. A microburst destroyed a bunch of tents and flung a A/C unit into the air and killed a young child. I don't mess with storms in this area.

[SlinginSammy HOF '63]

Last evening we had two tornado warnings here, and one the evening before.
Luck was with us and none touched down, however police reports say that 3 funnel clouds were sighted over the two days. Its a scary feeling, and they came up very quick. If it wasn't for the tornado sirens I wouldn't have even known to take cover since I live on the east side of a mountain, and they came over from the south west. It wasn't even raining 4 to 5 minutes before it happened.

we and some other area counties were under a tornado warning last night about 2am. We got hammered by golf ball size hail. The wife's car has a few dents in it so the ins company is going to get a call from us.:doh:

Now we're under some pretty nasty storms and the next county over from us had a tornado just now touch down but thankfully it looks like it's going to move north of us. Good times.:)

[SlinginSammy HOF '63]

well, now they've spotted a funnel cloud about 15 miles west of here. We're getting a downpour and thin trees are laying at a 45 degree angle, wow.

*edit* now they're saying it's on the ground. Yehaw Good lord I need to clean out my gutters.

*edit again* Now the storm sirens are going off here in town. Love the midwest in the spring:wavetowel