The practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys football team collapsed on May 2, 2009.NBC Sports: A Dozen Injured after Cowboys' Facility Collapses (May 2, 2009) Approximately 70 people, including players, coaches, staff and media, were inside the structure for a rookie practice when heavy thunderstorms hit the dome.CNN: OSHA to Look at Why Cowboys' Facility Collapsed (May 4, 2009)
OSHA, the Federal Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is investigating the cause of the collapse. OSHA will be interviewing witnesses, searching for identifiable hazards and determining whether any violations contributed to the structure's collapse. One person was paralyzed and eleven others were injured during the incident. CNN: OSHA to Look at Why Cowboys' Facility Collapsed (May 4, 2009)
The cause of the structure's collapse was initially believed to be caused by a tornado. Shortly after the incident, experts said a microburst, rather than a tornado, was the caused the problems with the metal-framed structure. Microbursts are sudden bursts of downward directed wind and rain, and do not have the spin action a tornado has. Wind measurements taken around the time of the collapse were around 64 miles per hour.Dallas Morning News: Dallas Cowboys' Indoor Practice Facility Collapses (May 2, 2009)
Severe Weather
Cowboys Building Collapse News
- Dallas Morning News: Dallas Cowboys' Indoor Practice Facility Collapses (May 2, 2009)
References
Fast Facts
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Building collapse date
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Time
3:30 pm central standard time
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Building location
Irving, Texas
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Cost of building
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Building size
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People inside at time of collapse
Approximately 70
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Winds at time of collapse
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Roof was made out of a tarp-type material supported by large steel beams, then blown full of airStar-Telegram.com: Dallas Cowboys Players, Staff, Grateful to Be Alive (May 3, 2009)
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Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis suffered a broken vertebrae in his neck due to the building collapse
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A cameraman described the incident as being "pure chaos" at the time of the collapse, then "everybody was helping everybody" as the rescue efforts beganDallas Morning News: Dallas Cowboys' Indoor Practice Facility Collapses (May 2, 2009)
