http://www.nflgridirongab.com/2009/05/02/v...ble-collapsing/

Looks just like high winds.

PFT said it was a tornado but when you look at it from a helicopter view, that facility's the only thing that was damaged in the area. Doesn't even look like straight-line winds. I think it was just high winds.

Let's just say I don't think Jerry Jones will rebuild his practice facility as a bubble.

it may not have been a tornado, but here is a shot of the weather formation just moments before the roof collapse (from cnn.com).



looks almost like a reverse funnel cloud.

I've never seen a cloud formation like that, but it does resemble a tornado. What are the officials saying?

sadly it is being reported that one of the Cowboys scouting assistants is permantly parlized from the waist down while another assistant coach did break a couple vertabe in his back he is expected to recover.

It is tragic that Jones did not invest in a decent facility, left a scouting assistant permanently paralyzed, the special team coach broke his back..

The accident made it onto danish mainstream television. Only other nfl related news is the super bowl"ocationaly" and Morten Andersen.

OmiGod! That's dreadful!

it was definitely not a tornado. A tornado would have caused the building to be pulled up.... not toppled over like it was.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some lawsuits out of this... either injured personel suing the cowboys, or the cowboys suing the supplier/builder/designer of the structure. Bottom line is, things shouldn't collapse in a 64 mph wind (which is the windspeed reported). The building codes for the Dallas area require a structure to be designed for a 90 mph windspeed.

They will absolutely be sued, and this isn't the first time for that particular company. They had built another structure elsewhere that collapsed due to snow, in Minnesota I believe. I happen to work with a guy that is dating Joe DiCamillis's daughter. I spoke to him this morning and Joe D was due to have surgery this morning and the surgery is a risky surgery and complications could leave him paralyzed. Hopefully the surgery goes well.
Fingers crossed and prayers go out.

Lawsuits are being filed against the builder, suppliers, and designer. Sounds like everyone involved is being dragged into it. LINK

I've actually dealt with a Cover-All building before. As a structural engineer, my employer was consulted to evaluate a Cover-All canopy which covered the courtyard of a building. We found that it wasn't able to carry the code required snow load (not even close). We think the only reason it didn't collapse was because the building was heated, and it probably kept the roof warm enough to melt any snow that fell on the roof.

We found that it wasn't able to carry the code required snow load (not even close). We think the only reason it didn't collapse was because the building was heated, and it probably kept the roof warm enough to melt any snow that fell on the roof.

Buildings constructed with such exacting standards......
Good thing for global warming then huh?
Keep that roof warm baby!