Clay County Emergency Management team monitors severe weather for Clay County Fair

The Clay County Fair is back for 11 days of fun - rain or shine.

There will be music like Country Grammar star Nelly, rides, funnel cake and more.

More than a quarter of a million people are expected to make their way out to the Clay County fair this year.

Inside the Clay County’s Emergency Management building, you’ll find the fair’s incident management team.

It’s made up of fair members, fire rescue and the sheriff’s office who are monitoring all aspects of the fair including large crowds, traffic, and severe weather.

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“Of course, with the weather we can see that happening, about 45 minutes in advance we know that we need to get people out,” Mandy Calley with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, said.

The Clay County Director of Emergency Management John Ward said this team is responsible for jumping in when the weathers take a turn for the worst.

“Obviously, it’s a tornado warning. It’s any type of severe weather or we start to have significant amount of lightning in the area, we’ll go ahead and shut everything down, shut the rides down, bring out staff because we have a lot of staff directing traffic and if it goes further, we’ll evacuate the folks to their car.

Andy Deggeller is the CEO of Deggeller Attractions, midway provider of the Clay County Fair.

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Deggeller said each ride is a little different when it comes to its threshold in windy conditions.

“Some of the higher rides are 40 MPH. A lot of the lower rides can operate in higher wind but normally people aren’t out when it’s any windier than that because there’s stuffed animals everywhere there’s cups, so people tend to not be on the midway when it’s that windy,” he said.

Deggeller said many of these rides are even programmed not to run and will stop if it gets too windy outside.

The chickens, pigs, and goats are in an area where they are shielded from the rain.

MORE: Clay County Fair leaders talk safety plans ahead of opening day

“We make sure to change out their bedding. If its wet we’ll change it out. We have in the past when it gets really windy. We’ll put up tarps especially when we have those baby goats,” Brooklynn hall, livestock superintend said.

Ward said even if it maybe raining outside there’s still a lot to do at the Clay County Fair.

“Come out enjoy it, pay close attention to your local media partners and then the weather but there’s plenty to do,” Ward said.

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Pictured ride: HYDRA 48" to Ride The fair will kick off Thursday, March 31 and conclude Sunday, April 10. The fairgrounds are located at 2493 State Road 16 W, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Prices are $10 for adults (13-59), and $7 for children (6-12) and seniors (60+). Admission is free for children age 5 and younger. (Claycountyfair.org)

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