Elwood, IL – President Barack Obama was unable to deliver his Memorial Day speech at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Illinois after a combination of severe rain, thunder and wind sent the president and those in attendance in search of shelter.

Obama did initially take the stage around noon and began to speak under the cover of several large umbrellas, but reportedly said, “a little rain never hurt anybody but we don’t want anybody struck by lightning,” and urged everyone to get into their cars or inside nearby buildings.

President Obama was forced to cancel the speech after reportedly trying to wait out the storm in the cemetery’s administration building.

In 2005, Obama spoke at Lincoln cemetery as a senator.

(Source: WPIX)