July 17 2019 9:55p
(WGTD)---Country Thunder and extreme weather go together like Brooks and Dunn.
Par for the course, a Heat Advisory goes into effect just hours before the main stage comes alive as the four-day music festival near Twin Lakes begins its run. Thursday's high is forecast to be 94, with Friday's high a couple of degrees warmer.
As they are every year, staff at the medical tent at Country Thunder is prepared to handle festival-goers who are overcome by the heat.
Meeting with reporters Wednesday outside of the department’s mobile command truck, Kenosha County Sheriff Dave Beth had some advice. "If there's one thing I would say to anyone coming here is drink lots of water," Beth said. "Other beverages I'm sure will be consumed here but water and juices will be the best ones you can do to keep yourself out of the tent."
That tent is staffed by doctors and nurses. The private firm Medix has a contract to run the festival’s first aid service.
Weather is usually a factor at Country Thunder, be it heat, thunderstorms or heavy rain. Last year an Illinois woman was struck by lightning in the campgrounds. She’s since recovered.
Beyond making sure that any severe weather notifications are widely disseminated, there’s little that can be done to protect people from the weather at an outdoor festival like County Thunder, Beth says.
The sheriff’s department is in charge of law enforcement, but all of the extra expenses are picked up by the festival itself. Some 100 deputies are on the grounds every day, patrolling in golf carts, ATV’s and on foot.
Beth says he personally enjoys Country Thunder, and says almost all of the patron his deputies come in contact with are extremly respectful.
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