Need to consider possible Roof Collaspe with SuperDome

[nativeflacracker]

Would it be feasible to get some large aircraft carriers in there and move mass amounts of people out instead of putting them in this dome? Something drastic needs to be done and NOW!

No way..seas/swells way too rough now

I'm sorry, I meant like military planes, etc.

[cyclone_eye]

Now you are getting in to the politics of the situation... From my past experience with this area (evacuation planning, routing, preparedness) most municipalities are more concerned with how their area is "zoned" than in actually working up a feasible plan. Politically speaking of course...

A lot of it comes down to money unfortunately... A lot of coordination is involved in setting up a truly comprehensive evac plan and that cost is shared by all concerned agencies. When budgetary matters are discussed, most legislators won't okay the money for something that may or may not happen sometime in the next 30 years.

I think karma is about to bite them all on their petards real soon now.

It is true ... politicans tend to spend money on things they can see but are reluctant on "sinking money" into something which may or may not happen.

After Katrina, they will be much political will to do things correctly but in a year's time when Katrina is behind and the city is returning to normalcy, contigency management issues will again be put on the backburner.

[Dr. Jonah Rainwater]

Well, this is a very special case...I mean New Orleans has had lots of evacuation orders before, but...emptying the entire city? This is an evacuation on the scale of 9/11, when all of Lower Manhattan was evacuated.

To mobilize enough resources to pull this off every time there was a Dennis, an Ivan, a Lili, a Georges...well, politics. After tomorrow there will likely be massive overhauls (finally) of evacuation and disaster procedures for coastal cities in the US...but I can guarantee you that after 5-10 years without a "big one", people and politicians will clamor for less spending and "pork".

[TSmith274]

From my understanding, as was the case with Georges in 1998, most if not all of the evacuees will be placed in the interior concourse ramps and hallways. The Superdome roof is constructed of a special foam sprayed onto a steel superstructure. It very well may loose large sections, but collapse seems unlikely.

[beenthru6]

I just hope and pray that the needed relief gets to these people quicker than relief came to those victims of Andrew. Unfortunately though, considering the number of bridges you have to cross to get to NO and the probability of infrastructure devastation, these people will likely be on their own for quite a while. Putting that many scared, hungry, angry people together in one place Is a recipe for a large scale riot born out of panic. If they survive the hurricane, they may not survive the aftermath of being crammed together with little supplies and no patience. Not a place I would want to be.

[THead]

Just heard on MSNBC that they are expecting up to 100,000 people at the superdome, that they intend on using the playing field area and the regular seating areas.

[feederband]

Just watching FOX news..Sheppard is down bourbon street in NO...The bars are open and packed.. He is interviewing people and for some reason they think they are safe the levies will hold and they are staying..

[InimanaChoogamaga]

Just watching FOX news..Sheppard is down bourbon street in NO...The bars are open and packed.. He is interviewing people and for some reason they think they are safe the levies will hold and they are staying..

I hope the levies do hold but that is not what is forecast to happen. The latest I heard was a 28 foot storm surge but I can't remember if that TWC or CNN.

[inotherwords]

Here's a bourbon street webcam and you can see people out on the street:

http://www.tropicalisle.com/webcam.html

[TPACane04]

that is insane...I hope the revelers have their living will completed...

I like a cold one as much as the next person, but NOT while staring down the eyes of this beast.

[Mello1]

Just watching FOX news..Sheppard is down bourbon street in NO...The bars are open and packed.. He is interviewing people and for some reason they think they are safe the levies will hold and they are staying..

Well, I hope they have plenty of black permanent markers to pass out so that they can scribble their SSN and next of kin number on their bodies. Unbelievable.

[Jupiter]

Sorry if already posted, but more live cams here
http://www.nola.com/bourbocam/

[TSmith274]

I think those people are trapped tourists and locals who unfortunately decided to vertically evacuate. I guess they're just squeezing in the last bit of normalcy they'll have for quite some time. Surely, they'll return to their hotels.

[bp00010002]

I was listening to Mayor Nagin this morning in that press conference, as I drove out of the NO area north to MS.

I BELIEVE he was asked about other buildings in New Orleans that would be used as last refuge places, such as high profile buildings (probably One Shell Square, etc).

Nowhere did I hear him say the roof would fail or that he could n to discuss it.

He DID say, though, that he would not discuss other buildings that might be used.

This entire thread is based on mishearing the conference, imo.

[charley]

I, too, was just watching Sheppard on Fox News. It made me absolutely nauseated, literally, to listen to the man who said he believed he was in a "safe situation" where he was at and that was why he wasn't evacuating. When Sheppard asked him something along the lines of "How safe can you be with 28-foot storm surge and 175 mph winds blowing for hours?" the guy answered something like, "Well, under those conditions, probably not too safe.....but that's not really gonna happen."

After that comment, I had to walk away from the television and come back here to my computer. I just don't understand people's mindset at all.

Also, watching Fox News show footage of all the people waiting for the buses to pick them up to transport them to the Superdome about broke my heart.....they're carrying a couple bags each with their most important belongings and hoping that they'll be safe. It's just so sad that they can't get out.

Someone explain to me why airplanes weren't brought in to transport people out of the city. Why didn't Bush declare a national emergency and get planes to cancel their regular flights in order to get people out? I know, I know, it would cost millions..........but lives are worth that money, aren't they?

Oh, and one last thing......why the heck is Sheppard staying in NO tonight? Is this story REALLY worth risking his life for??? When TWC won't put their people in NO, that says something about the level of danger. I can't understand why a reporter is there, staying on the 3rd floor of an old hotel, hoping he'll make it through. I hope he doesn't have a wife and/or kids to leave behind in case he doesn't make it.

[THead]

Nobody said the Mayor said the roof would collapse. I think we were just discussing the structure of the building, and if it truly would be a safe place to put up to 100,000 people. Like I said earlier, ALOT of "eggs" in one basket, but like the Mayor said, its a last resort.

[artist]

you can only move so many planes out and the flights were all full so no more could go even if they wanted to. At the airports there are literally planes taking off every few seconds or minutes already. Canceling fligths would only leave more there.

[Hfcomms]

The only solution is mass, early evacuations. But that is the thing that is very hard for any politician to make a decision on since how many times have storms veered off the projected path the last couple of seasons. If you evacuate you could evacuate into the path of the storm and that happened to a lot of people in Florida last year.

No one wants to cry "wolf" because then people won't listen when the real thing comes. Most in N.O. got complacent and frankly just waited too long. But, you have to take responsibility for your own safety and preperations. I saw today that folks were trying to fill their cars and "surprise" no gas?? When you know a storm has crossed Florida and moving into the gulf why don't you fill your vehicle and jerry cans and get your stuff together just in case??

I know that for many, the poor, elderly, weak and infirm they are dependant upon others but for most people they would of had options if they kept their eyes and ears open. Heck, I'm in the upper midwest and I'm watching this thing like a Hawk. If I lived in the area....well, I wouldn't live in the area but those that can have to be responsible for their own safety and well being.

[bp00010002]

THead,

Actually, direct quote, on this thread, "going to be many people filling up in there.Its going to be a tragic loss of life should the roof collapse", and the discussion on the dome "failing"

My ONLY point is that Mayor Nagin was not talking about this, which is what this is all based on - his comment that 'he couldnt comment on other places....'

H was not talking about it failing or collapsing in this regard - there is huge debate around here (New Orleans, live and work there) about people using is as a last refuge spot.

Many people never plan to leave. Some cannot get out, but others just plan to use it as refuge, which is said over and over and over, it not intended for that use.

Could be nuts in there, with no power, no water, no food, and no restroom facilities, due to pumps and electricity and everything under water.

I am so sad about all of this. My home, south of I-10, is going to be gone. Getting my mba Tulane right now. Im guessing no school now. My workplace and my job - wont have it for awhile. And, how many will die is hard to guess.

But, to go back to the original point - he waa NOT talking about it failing. Hell, it might. There was a study that started on whether it could even be a last refuge spot, b ut that is not complete. I guess we will find out now.


I was born in New Orleans, grew up in the area, and now, im in Vicksburg, MS, praying that everything will be ok. But, I know it will not. Very sad day tomorrow will be.

[EverythingIsEverything]

I was listening to Mayor Nagin this morning in that press conference, as I drove out of the NO area north to MS.

I BELIEVE he was asked about other buildings in New Orleans that would be used as last refuge places, such as high profile buildings (probably One Shell Square, etc).

Nowhere did I hear him say the roof would fail or that he could n to discuss it.

He DID say, though, that he would not discuss other buildings that might be used.

This entire thread is based on mishearing the conference, imo.

Reading and Listening is fundamental, the title of my post was that roof failure of the super dome is something that needs to be considered, that was my opinion! A reporter at the news conference, did ask him if there were alternatives if there was structural failure with the superdome, he replied there are alternatives, and the reporter asked him like what?? which is a natural follow up question...where is the alternative location if something happen.s to the super dome..and he stated he wouldn't discuss it right now. which at the time, led me to believe there isn't an alternative.