While President Biden was briefed on the chaotic conditions that left tens of thousands trapped at the Burning Man event, the Burning Man chief executive insisted she wasn’t panicking.
The festival is a week-long camping event in the Nevada desert that culminates in the “ceremony” of lighting the 40-foot-tall statue.
However, Flooding during the event This year, roads to and from the location were closed and guests were forced to share food and water.
On Sunday, President Biden tell a reporter The White House is monitoring the situation, adding: “We’re in touch with the locals. We’re watching. We should get everyone out of there.”
Videos on social media showed visitors wading through the mud surrounding the festival site, with many opting to walk miles out of the desert to get home
Certain types of cars, many of which have off-road wheels, are also capable of driving in swampy terrain.
Actor Chris Rock and DJ Diplo were among those who left the scene on foot before being arrested rescued vehicles passing by.
but despite musicians said attendees were scared Given the possibility of being stranded in the desert, the campaign’s chief executive said no emergency measures were necessary.
“People are here as usual and have everything they need to survive. There’s not a lot of panic, we’re not going to evacuate. We’re waiting for the ground to dry,” said Marianne Goodell NBC News.
Goodale insists that festivalgoers — typically about 70,000 people — know to be prepared.
“No chaos, no panic,” she reiterated. “People have to understand that for us, in this place – we chose the dry lake bed – this environment will always be a living environment.
“We brought all the infrastructure we needed to survive, and so did the people who came here to camp. So until next Wednesday, it’s not really an emergency.”
Visitors typically start leaving Burning Man on Monday, but many were forced to hold off until Tuesday when roads started to dry up.
“We’ve done what needs to be done internally to make sure toilets are pumped, food and water are available,” Goodell added.
Burning Man did not immediately respond wealth Request for comment.
President Biden also noted in Sunday’s interview that one person died during the event.
Local authorities identified the man as 32-year-old Leon Reece, who was pronounced dead at the scene in Black Rock Desert.
Pershing County Sheriff Sgt.Nathan Carmichael told reno gazette magazine Death doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the weather.
last escape
As of this writing, revelers began to evacuate the scene and event organizers opened the gates to leave.
The reopening of the road was announced at 2 p.m. on Monday; event organizers say there will be a wait to leave in the early evening eight hours.
BURNED: Drone and satellite images show a long line of vehicles leaving the site of Nevada’s Burning Man festival, with thousands of attendees bogged down by heavy rain pic.twitter.com/fq9q9AADQL
— ABC News (@ABC) September 5, 2023
Instead, they encouraged visitors to wait to watch the annual portrait burning.
These issues present a “social challenge,” Goodale said, which is part of the festival’s appeal, explaining: “We see it as a social challenge to sustain our presence here and do it in a really civilized way. That, and doing it with grace and grace. Patience — and that’s exactly what’s happening.”
While some on social media described the scenes as “the end of the world,” others echoed Goodale’s sentiments, saying strangers were sharing food, water and shelter and offering rides out of the camp.
“There’s no reason to panic,” Goodell added. “We’re used to extreme weather here. It’s part of the challenge and our rite of passage in extreme weather with grace.”
Agencies and the National Guard have been involved in meetings about the evacuation of the camps but don’t need to be called just yet, the chief executive added.
“This doesn’t end Burning Man, it just makes us stronger,” Goodell added.
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