Alarm Rider, my architect husband agrres with your structural engineer brother-in-law completely! These guys know enough about structures to not venture any guesses without detailed information about how the thing is actually put together.
My hu8sb and says this, however. If he were forced into the Superdome as a last resort, he wouldn't go into the seating or arena, but would try to stay near the exterior walls in the concession areas...
That is ominous.
Yes ma'am.
My brother-in-law is a guy I trust. I asked him just what part of the structure he would go to if he had to stay in the super dome. He said basically the same as your husband. He also said he would not be in a postion to have to make that choice even if he had to hitch a ride out of town.
He says he would want to see the roof stats before he went in there as well. It's the roof he would be concerned about, and also the underpinings of the structure itself.
Something he said was very telling, "Just because a structure is large and heavy does not make it safe-sometimes, the bigger they are the harder they fall. Nature is stronger than the ideas and buildings of men".
Prayers up and I am sure glad I am not there, maybe the thing will ease up as it nears land.
AR