Heavy Hearts in Huntsville

There are heavy hearts in Huntsville this morning after strong winds from a sudden microburst hit the air show at Huntsville International Airport yesterday afternoon. The 48 mph winds uprooted several large tents, sending large pieces of debri flying about and injuring 12.

Tragically, 5-year-old Aaron Josiah Miller of Athens was killed when one of the 5000 lb air conditioning units used to cool the tents fell on him.

Police and emergency personnel responded with distinction and the utmost skill, as did the staff at Huntsville Hospital. Still, there is sorrow-too-great-to-bear-alone for the family of Aaron and the thousands who witnessed this horribly tragic event.

Your prayers and thoughts sent our way would be greatly appreciated.

UPDATE #1: Mayor Loretta Spencer speaks for all of us.

UPDATE #2: I was wondering the same thing.

4 Comments

  1. kdeats

    I was there under one of the tents that got flipped over. There was a domino effect from the first tent that was caught in the microburst down to ours. We felt and saw it coming. None of us really knew the magnitude because the emergency persons came in and before we could really realize what was happening we were forced away from the area. I have some pictures of were the emergency vehicles were located around one tent that was no longer elevated due to the air conditioning unit. The rumor is that that was were the little boy was and you can see people consoling each other. When I was walking past that area I didn’t think much of it, but I did see a lady crying violently on the grass away from the tents but behind that are and the HEMSI was consoling and hugging her…odd if she was hurt. Perhaps a relative or mom that was upset over something. Of course we are all thankful that no more were seriously hurt. I never would have guessed I would be involved in national news

  2. Mike the Eyeguy

    Good grief, so glad you’re okay.

    I was wondering, where exactly were the AC units (on ground, above ground) and how were they attached to the tents? With all the surface area of the tents, that must have been a mighty pull once the wind caught it.

    Yes, as bad as it is, it could have been much worse.

  3. kdeats

    The Big units were attached to the back of the tents and were on the ground. About 4 feet wide and 7 feet tall. The tents teater-totted over the units so they never blew away. If the wind was great enough and someone bumped into the unit too…

  4. kdeats

    OK so I am also curious which tent was the one he was in??? There were about 7 or 8 connected together that went flying.

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