CNN had a reporter at the Superdome earlier....

[Postman]

with hundreds if not thousands of black folks lined up to get inside the stadium.

After the report they cut back to the studio and the talking head pointed out that the Superdome was never tested, structurally, during the planning phase of construction to withstand a storm of Katrina's magnitude.

(sarcasm)....Hey, whadayasay we throw all these undesirables in here and see if they live?

We'll call it "Survivor, New Orleans"

[TrueAmerican]

1. I have a gut feeling

that the SuperDome will fall to pieces during this Hurricane and the flood waters will sweep people out to the ocean.

[rbjensen]

4. God

I hope you are wrong.

[TrueAmerican]

8. Me too

But they said the Titanic was unsinkable. Don't trust people who are so sure of themselves.

[ohio_liberal]

5. Sweet Jeebus

I hope not. I hope these people have some clue what they're doing.

[Horse with no Name]

6. I have a very uneasy feeling too

They KNOW the floor is going to flood.
Problem is--everything is going to flood.
The Superdome just happens to be above sea level and is made of concrete.
There weren't any good choices here...but I think this was the best one.

[jsamuel]

9. that would put 9/11 in perspective... Jesus help them

[Tallison]

2. I noticed that, too

The reporter also noted that a disproportionate number of those staying in the city have the most minimal resources for escaping.

[Genki]

11. did anyone else notice

that the majority of vehicles in the lines of departing traffic had only one or two occupants?

[greyl]

16. Families are taking both cars. nt

[Genki]

happy for them

but it's a shame they couldn't have given a lift to the less fortunate.

[Tallison]

21. You're kidding?

That's certain to further clog up escape routes. Amazing how short-sighted people can continue being in the face of tragedy.

[Tallison]

18. For lack of public transportation,

another reporter said, so many have been left behind. Even from a cost, if not humanitarian perspective, it would make more sense to get everyone out than face such mass casualty potential.

And, BTW, Welcome to DU!

[Genki]

32. are you talkin' to me?

if so, thanks for the welcome, I'm in awe of you guys and the good work you do.

[Tallison]

35. Yes, you, Genki

Glad to have you here! :hi:

[AuntPatsy]

3. Someone just posted this on another thread...not exactly comforting.

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl092304thanh.12956...

<snip>It appears a facility as large as the Dome could hold up in hurricane conditions but Bill Curl, spokesman for the Superdome, says that is yet to be tested and if there is no other choice then maybe the Dome could serve as a shelter.

“Only in dire emergencies. The Superdome is not a shelter,” said Curl.

According to Curl, the assumption that the Superdome can withstand hurricane force winds is just that: an assumption. He says more analysis is needed to determine what the Dome can actually withstand because previous wind studies have become somewhat irrelevant since they did not factor in the new high-rise buildings around the Dome.

“They create a wind tunnel effect and that needs to be tested. There were initial studies that indicated 130 miles per hour, but we don’t know,” said Curl. He adds that the Dome is not impervious to the same elements other areas would be exposed to.

[crispini]

10. your link's 404.

already scrubbed? :shrug:

[AuntPatsy]

20. Another poster posted it on another thread just a bit ago. so i have

not much clue as to why this was?

[crispini]

25. which thread?

[AuntPatsy]

37. I don't recall, I just had copied and pasted it which is why I was able

to post it here.

[JuniperLea]

7. Genocide?

I've been asking myself all day, why it is that the main evacuation site is expected to be under water? Why weren't all these people evacuated yesterday?

[ohio_liberal]

15. This is what I want to know

Why did they not order mandatory evacuations yesterday? Why are the city and local school buses not hauling people out of there?

[rbjensen]

27. I can't bring myself

to believe anything like this would be done on purpose, but I will say this. IF this goes down BAD then there will be hell to pay. This country will not be able to look at pictures of thousands of victims in (or out of) that dome. Head will roll, changes will be made. The excrement will hit the fan.

[NYC]

12. Picture of Superdome.

Day and night:

[jmm]

13. I heard that too

at the same time the bottom of the screen said over 10,000 in line. Then the guy he was talking to said that the people would all be put in the bleachers because there probably will be flooding.

[AnnInLa]

14. In the Louisiana forum, under "Acadiana Thread"

Poster #1 (first post on DU) takes many of us to task about being insensitive to what's going on in Nola. He/she makes the point that the officials HAD TO DO SOMETHING. If there's just a teensy more chance that they will survive in the Super Dome rather than in their unstable home, why not try it? Honestly, there's nothing else they could have done with that many people. It's not a plot against the poor...it's trying something desperate that might work, might not.

((I'm still not sure what set off that poster, sure hope it wasn't something that I said.))

[CottonBear]

31. Are you near Lacombe, LA? My in-laws live there.

My sister-in law thinks her house is going to flood. It's slab on grade with a big creek at the back of the property. :scared:

CNN interviewed the mayors of Slidell and Biloxi. They were grim.

Stay safe. I hope NO is still there tomorrow.

[Postman]

34. Just goes to show how unprepared this country is for a disaster...

"we had to do something" doesn't cut it.

How much lead time did the planners have? How long has the storm track been heading towards NO?

Is the mayor or city council's family sitting in the bleachers of the Superdome?

[Eloriel]

17. Right. Survivor Bring Your Own Food and Water

This is going to be a nightmare. Or, more accurtely, a catastrophe of biblical proportions.

[KG]

19. hey idiot fear mongering talking head, how does one 'test'

a structure that size?

[Liberal Veteran]

23. A really big shop fan and a fire hose?

:shrug:

[KG]

30. structural enginneers calculate for specific loads, then add a margin

the dome won't fall down, but in my sustain some damage.

[zulchzulu]

22. I've been in the Superdome dozens of times

I'll bet money that the Superdome will be fine structurally. The problem may be the water coming in, though.



The thing is built like a tank. I'd have a couple gris-gris bags in my pocket for good measure, though.

[bribri16]

24. I believe that the military (Homeland Security) are in charge at the dome.

Otherwise there wouldn't be so many delays in getting the people in there. Checking for weapons and alcohol.... At a time like this, a lot of people may need some alcohol. I think it's a stupid way of doing things.

[wli]

38. yep, slowing it down by putting up a dragnet n/t

[Lori Price CLG]

26. Am I the only person who thinks that's why people were sent there?

I know it's crazy, but I would put *nothing* beneath this insane regime.

From your post: "...(T)he Superdome was never tested, structurally, during the planning phase of construction to withstand a storm of Katrina's magnitude."

Lori Price

[tinfoilinfor2005]

28. Yeah, we heard the same thing.

Hubby said they are going to their tomb. I just refuse to think that way, but how shitty that that is your only choice. I don't think any of those people want to be standing in line to go into that place to spend the next 48 to 72 hours. I guarantee the moms and dads would rather have the financial option to fly their kids up to a safer place.
Survivor, New Orleans...let's hope so.

[SpiralHawk]

29. It won't be long till someone starts singing in the Super Dome

And others will take up the song.

"wasn't that a might storm, Lord, wasn't that a mighty storm..."

[ConcernedCanuk]

33. An old cemetery was demolished to make space for it - hmmmmm

.
.
.

The Louisiana Superdome, often informally referred to simply as the Superdome, is a large, multi-purpose sports and exhibition facility located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana. The Superdome is the home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints and was once the home of the New Orleans Jazz (now Utah Jazz) NBA franchise.
Picture of the Louisiana Superdome

Construction started on the Louisiana Superdome on August 11, 1971 and was finished in November 1975. An old cemetery was demolished to make space for it; some superstitious locals attribute the poor record of the New Orleans Saints to bad luck produced by disturbing the tombs . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdome

_______________________________________________________

-

I think I'd be a freaking if any of my Ancestors had been there . .

[hootinholler]

36. TWC reported the design was at 200MPH winds.

If the contractor stayed within specs and it has been properly maintained, they should be ok.

I doubt anyone will be swept out to sea from NO. It sits in a bowl which I fear it will keep everyone right there.

-Hoot