A severe thunderstorm in northern Alabama on Saturday interrupted a gathering in the town of Hillsboro, catching attendees off guard and forcing them to run for shelter.
The thunderstorm erupted around 1 p.m. local time and produced significant rainfall, cloud-to-ground lightning and damaging wind gusts.
Joshua Cofield was one of the attendees and said he was not expecting to see such a powerful thunderstorm.
“It was just a small green spot [on radar]; no more than three minutes later, the wind picked up, and that was the result,” Cofield said, referring to his video.
In the cellphone video, families can be seen running for cover, and a large bounce house goes airborne from right to left across the gathering area.
No one appeared to be on the inflatable as it somersaulted among collapsing tents and food trucks.
Bounce House Takes Flight
The video, which quickly went viral, captured the moment the bounce house was lifted into the air by the strong winds. The inflatable can be seen soaring through the air, bouncing over tents and food trucks before landing a short distance away.
Safety Concerns
Inflatable Structures and Safety
Cofield said some attendees appeared to have received scrapes after a tent collapsed onto people, but all were able to make it out of the mangled mess.
Local authorities did not report any significant injuries following the storm, which caused tree damage and power lines to fall in neighboring communities.
The incident highlights the importance of taking precautions when setting up inflatable structures. Experts recommend that inflatables be secured properly and that they be taken down when strong winds are expected.
The Aftermath
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the thunderstorms developed along a boundary ahead of a cold front.
Forecasters issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch later in the afternoon for communities in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The thunderstorms were capable of producing wind gusts of up to 70 mph and hail at least the size of ping-pong balls.
The bounce house was at least the second inflatable to go airborne due to sudden wind gusts in the past few weeks.
A Troubling Trend
At the start of the month, a 5-year-old boy was killed, and at least one other child was significantly injured after an inflatable bounce house became dislodged from its stakes during a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game.
County officials reported that the bounce house was lifted 15 to 20 feet into the air by a sudden gust of wind, causing children to fall out.
A study by experts at the University of Georgia found that nearly 500 people have been injured and 28 killed in bounce house-related incidents since 2000.
However, researchers cautioned that these figures are likely an undercount because of poor documentation.
Taking Precautions
In light of these recent incidents, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with inflatable structures.
Always ensure that the inflatable is properly secured, and do not use it in windy conditions.
If you see an inflatable that is not properly secured, report it to the authorities.
It is also important to supervise children closely when they are playing on inflatable structures.
By taking these precautions, we can help to prevent future accidents and ensure that inflatable structures are a safe and enjoyable form of entertainment.
