PENN TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic after a powerful wind gusts tore away part of a tent at the annual Penn Township Fall Festival Saturday evening in Westmoreland County.

The severe weather came through after 8 p.m.

Officials say about 1,000 people were in the Harrison City Municipal Park at the time.

“It looked like the ‘Wizard of Oz.’ I was like Dorothy trying to get away from it,” said Alexa Lambs, of Penn Township. “All of the sudden the tent just picked up and I started panicking. And I just ran away. It was cool, but I was scared at the same time.”

“Looked down here and the dust from the baseball field blew up and all of the sudden these tents just started rocking,” added Adam Lesnicky, of North Huntingdon. ”We were holding everything down as best we could. With that amount of wind and that quick, it were like, hold on and pray for the best.”

Police say they were able to evacuate the park in about 15 minutes.

One woman suffered a minor injury.

A fireworks show had to be called off, but officials say it will be rescheduled.

RELATED LINKS:
More Penn Township News
More Westmoreland County News