They always say that if you're taking shelter from a tornado you shouldn't be anywhere there is a large span roof . . . the wind speeds might not be as high as tornados in this case, but will last much, much longer!
Matthews is trying to put himself in the story at every opportunity - HE was at the convention when Bush's father yada yada
The domed roof of the Pantheon in Rome was very well designed. It is 160 ft. in diameter...the largest span in the world until the Houston Astrodome. It is built of poured concrete and was built in the year 120 AD.+/- It has a large open circular hole in the center of the roof (to let the smoke out I guess). It is still standing today. I went into it last fall. The Romans built things pretty darn good.