OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — EAA AirVenture Oshkosh closed down early on Wednesday ahead of the potential severe weather heading towards the area.
The weather affects not only the event but those camping as well.
"We work with Winnebago County Emergency Management for those emergencies with how do we deal with people in case there's suddenly a quick little flood that might flood some camping areas, we have to move those people out," said Dick Knapinski, the Director of Communications for EAA Airventure.
But for many campers NBC 26 spoke with, they said they weren't too worried about the storms.
For many it was because many of those who camp on the grounds have been doing so for many years.
Several said they've experienced severe weather before while camping out during the storms.
"We'll just ride it out, we'll button down everything that is going to blow away and we'll just deal with it tomorrow once it's done," said Cory Day.
He said he hasn't experienced anything that's too bad.
“We have and it’s never been so bad so we couldn't handle it, things get a little bit wet. It's just what it is," Day said.
For another EAA-goer who has been coming to the event for 50 years said he already has a plan as well in case severe weather does hit.
"If it gets stormy we're not going to be in the tents because the branches could fall," said Bill Fitch, Dubuque, Iowa.
This Iowa traveler said in all 50 years he's camped out here, he has seen it all.
“Had floods here. Couldn’t even get into campgrounds here for a couple days. I used to fly here but we don’t fly up here anymore. I had to go and retie down the airplanes and tie them down well enough because the storm would just blow them away,” Fitch said. "I was very fearful of them blowing away but it didn’t happen."
Officials said they have a warning alert system along the event grounds and campgrounds in case any additional evacuations have to occur.
The EAA event grounds closed down at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
For those wishing to seek shelter because of weather conditions, EAA Airventure is offering shelter for families.
EAA Airventure will be using the EAA Aviation Museum as a temporary shelter followed by other facilities in Oshkosh.
Busses will run continual routes and pick up people at shower building and Red One Markets.
You can find those locations below:
