The annual Burning Man festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert took an unexpected turn this year when heavy rain caused flooding and left over 70,000 attendees stranded. The festival's organizers urged everyone to shelter in place and conserve their food, water, and fuel. The situation became serious enough that President Joe Biden was briefed and the Nevada National Guard offered assistance.[0] Despite the challenges, organizers stressed that there was no cause for alarm. Unfortunately, there was also a death at the festival, which is currently under investigation by the Pershing County Sheriff's Office.[1] Details about the individual and the cause of death have not been released.[2]
The festival-goers were advised to take shelter in a warm and safe place and to avoid driving or operating any vehicles on the campgrounds. The heavy rain resulted in road closures and the temporary airport at the festival was shut down.[3] Some attendees chose to walk through the mud, including DJ Diplo and comedian Chris Rock, who shared a video of their journey on social media.[4]
As of midday Monday, approximately 64,000 people remained on site, according to festival organizers.[5] They encouraged attendees to delay their departure until Tuesday to prevent congestion.[6] The driving ban was lifted on Monday afternoon, allowing vehicles to exit the festival grounds.[4] However, many had already begun their journey home before the ban was lifted.[7] Drone footage showed hundreds of large vehicles lined up and making their way out of the festival.[7]
The rain and mud created challenging conditions for festival-goers who are used to the extreme heat of the Nevada desert.[8] Supplies were rationed, and there were connectivity issues.[7] Despite the difficulties, the Burning Man community came together to support each other and make the best of the situation. The festival is known for its celebration of community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.
Burning Man has been a popular event for business elites and tech players in the past, with attendees including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elizabeth Holmes. The festival creates a temporary city in the desert where people gather to build and admire art and express themselves. While this year's festival faced unexpected challenges, it demonstrated the resilience and camaraderie of the Burning Man community.
Updates and resources for attendees were provided through a dedicated webpage created by the event organizers.[3] The festival's survival guide emphasized the importance of preparedness and supporting one another during challenging situations. Despite the rain and flooding, the spirit of Burning Man prevailed, reminding everyone of the festival's core values.
0. “Burning Man: Organizers Decline Assistance from National Guard, President Biden Briefed” Consequence, 4 Sep. 2023, https://consequence.net/2023/09/burning-man-national-guard-biden/
1. “Death Investigated at Burning Man During Storms That Have Left Thousands Stuck in Desert” PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2023, https://people.com/death-investigated-at-burning-man-during-storms-that-have-left-thousands-sheltering-7965164
2. “What we know about flooding at Burning Man” Axios, 5 Sep. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/09/03/burning-man-festival-flooding-weather
3. “Chris Rock and Diplo escape Burning Man by hitching ride with fan” Entertainment Weekly News, 3 Sep. 2023, https://ew.com/celebrity/chris-rock-diplo-escape-burning-man-fan-truck/
4. “Burning Man “exodus operations” begin as driving ban is lifted, organizers say” CBS News, 5 Sep. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/burning-man-exodus-operations-driving-ban-lifted-flooding/
5. “Burning Man exodus begins after chaos as new details about festival death revealed” The Independent, 5 Sep. 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/burning-man-exodus-festival-death-b2404772.html
6. “Burning Man flooding: What happened to stranded festivalgoers?” ABC News, 4 Sep. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/US/burning-man-flooding-happened-stranded-festivalgoers/story?id=102908331
7. “Burning Man organizers lift driving ban after heavy rains left the event smothered in mud and trapped thousands” KTVZ, 4 Sep. 2023, https://ktvz.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2023/09/03/death-investigated-at-burning-man-while-70000-festival-attendees-remain-stuck-in-nevada-desert-after-rain-3/
8. “Burning Man organizers lift driving ban after heavy rains left the event smothered in mud and trapped thousands” CNN, 5 Sep. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/04/us/burning-man-storms-shelter-monday/index.html
