NPR says NO Superdome is already packed with 70,000+

[MnFats]

I expect it can hold more ...but....and I admit to being a worry-wart, but what happens if it starts to break up in 175-mph winds or water starts coming in?
I'm not trying to cause panic and I hope I don't get flamed but,,,what if? what if?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Pray

that those there can stay safe. Could be the only thing we can do now.

[Horse with no Name]

2. I don't think there is an answer for that

The only thing you can console yourself with is that it is the BEST of bad situations.
We can only hope that this monster calms down a little before she comes inland.

[KyndCulture]

3. can that roof withstand the gusts they are reporting?

That was my question.... they've reported on the navy and air force weather sites gusts of 259pmh. Maybe concentrating so many people there wasn't such a great idea after all.

[blm]

24. It's built to withstand up to 200mph. It's gusts 215+ that can do it in.

.

[rockymountaindem]

4. It can probably hold up.

I'm sure it's built for that. When I was at the CN Tower in Toronto they said that the Skydome (which is basically attached to the Tower) and it's retractable roof are built to withstand the shock of the CN Tower collapsing onto it. Keep in mind that the CN Tower is basically a 1800 foot concrete pillar.

[shoelace414]

10. that is very interesting

I think the white thing is the skydome.. am I right?

(BTW.. this was taken from the CN Tower)

[rockymountaindem]

19. Yes.

That photo was taken from about 1400 feet high. Imagine the observation deck and all that concrete falling that far onto the Skydome (now "Rogers Centre"), and the Skydome holding up.

[shoelace414]

22. It's this high.

:)

[tom_paine]

5. If true, may those people be kept safe from harm

But with NO below sea level, it is entirely possible the city could be damned near literally washed away.

I hope these scenarios are hysterical, and of course it is almost certain that the size, strength, and frequency of hurricanes will be increasing, as well as the number of "hurricane firsts" we are experiencing since weather data has been recorded.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. The superdome, unlike the rest of NO, is 25 feet above sea level

Wind might be a problem, but the water won't be.

[AtLiberty]

7. It's not safe there...

The Red Cross has never designated a location in New Orleans as a shelter because it says no place is safe.

I'm surprised that city officials are allowing it. I suppose they have no choice and figure it's better than nothing.

Seems like a logistical nightmare having that many people at one locale with their necessities for an indefinite period of time with the real possibility of not having utilities, working toilets, fresh water, food, etc., not to mention the dangers of flooding and winds.

[coffeenap]

12. When the mayor was speaking earlier live, he said they are offering

the Superdome as a last resort, and if it perhaps doesn't hold up, they have other locations in mind. When asked where those were, he said he did not want to say.

[Child_Of_Isis]

26. he did not want to say

Wonder why? Wonder if they know something that they aren't telling us.

[HereSince1628]

25. I admit to concern about water, food and sanitation.

I'm less concerned about the building. Anyone know if there is a "high road" that will make supplying the dome possible if the rest of the city is flooded?

[speedoo]

8. It's built of steel and concrete.

I would expect people will be safe there, barring some freakish occurence.

[Child_Of_Isis]

9. What if they are stuck in there for weeks?

No food, no water. If someone brings out a sandwich, there could be bedlam. Especially if children are crying from hunger. Surely we will be able to drop food and water to them? From the pics on the tele most look to be African American. I didn't see too many white faces...but I also didn't see all 70, 000 folks.

[Cleita]

16. The mayor of NO was just on TWC

and he said it was coming in like a tsunami, rather than wind, so it probably will be over very quickly. I hope those people are safe.

[Child_Of_Isis]

23. so it probably will be over very quickly

What does that mean? :scared: Quickly as in no suffering for those left behind?

[Cleita]

27. Well, they aren't going to starve to death, which is

the scenario put forth. None of it's good but over quickly means people can recover more quickly.

[Lasher]

11. A dome is about the strongest structure you can build

I remember watching a show on TV, where an old sports dome was being demolished. It wasn't easy.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Why aren't they sending in buses

and taking as many people out of there as possible?

Yes the building can hold 70,000+ during a game but that is with every sitting upright on their crapping seating.

[Cleita]

14. Why doesn't the military lift a lot of these people out by

helicopter? Oh I forgot the President isn't around to issue the order and the helicopters are in Iraq. Your tax dollars not working for you when you need help.

[MnFats]

15. now that is a good idea. and Not ALL aircraft are in Iraq..

...Air national Guard forces still have planes in the country.
Min. Air national Guard, for example, has C-130 transport planes at Mpls. St. Paul Int';
Ok, it may be too late to send them, but somebody should have thought of that a couple of days ago.
There must be some aircraft closer.

[Child_Of_Isis]

20. Those are poor people!

They won't send anyone in after them. Sad to say, but I don't have much (any) faith in our government helping them.

[indepat]

17. We lived in Jefferson Parish when Betsy hit: while I would never

ever go to the Superdome as a place of refuge during a major hurricane, I admittedly know nothing of the structural integrity of the Superdome nor have any idea as to how well it would withstand high flood waters.

[Jara sang]

18. When is the hurricane supposed to make landfall?

[Child_Of_Isis]

21. I think around 7 in the morning.

But it has picked up some steam and is going a bit faster now. So maybe before that.

[Endangered Specie]

29. I think 6am CDT is the latest estimate.

[Endangered Specie]

28. THe building surviving the storm isnt as much of a problem as

getting food and water for 90000+ people for several days, escpecially if they are surrounded by floods and no power. They may very well survive the hurricane, but what if no one can get to the dome for a week or two?

[elehhhhna]

30. helicpoters. plus dunderfuck is on vacation so things must be fine,

riiiiiiiiiiight.

[Roland99]

31. Isn't the roof aluminum?

I know they had to add some radio antennae *outside* of the Superdome as cell signals could not reach *into* the dome otherwise.

[Elidor]

32. That can't be right

WWL TV in NO just had a live report from the Superdome. They said about 10,000 people inside and as many outside. The Homely Security director for the area was there and estimated that they couldn't accommodate more than 20-30K people because they expect the lower level of the structure to flood.

[jeffreyi]

34. I think you got it right, I didn't hear the 20-30k nt

[jeffreyi]

33. the streaming video

http://www.whttp://tinyurl.com/8hbtp

just said that there are 10k people in and around the Superdome right now, more arriving in a constant stream. The homeland security guy in charge of the Superdome said that the field area (ground level) will be under water. They apparently don't know how many the dome can hold. This guy implied that he doesn't really care how many it can hold, the main thing is to keep people alive, so it sounds as if they will stuff them in any way they can and personal comfort is not that much of a consideration.