[Nita Nupress]

Thanks for your comments. I'm getting a sick feeling in my stomach for these people trying to get in the Superdome. The officials need to open more doors or something. This is getting ridiculous on how long it's taking.

I posted this on the end of the other thread. Maybe someone will be interested in commenting here:

To: jslade; Fudd Fan

Re: the Superdome:

Because of the cuvature of the exterior, any lateral energy winds will be transferred verticaly literally taking the roof off. You heard it here first. They are being evacuated into a death trap IMHO.

That's what I was thinking. Who has that photo of it? Any engineer types who are reading this care to opine?

[beyond the sea]

see post # 72

[shezza]

Superdome photo: click here

[jacquej]

My husband is an architect (MIT trained), and not an engineer.

He is worried about the force of the wind lifting off the roof. He made me do a google search to see exactly what the construction of the roof was... (reinforced concrete).

He says that the shape of the roof makes it function much like an airplane wing, and that the wind will tend to "lift" it. He believes that the weak point will be the bolts holding the roof to the walls. Even if it doesn't come off, if it vibrates under the stresses, some of the panels might come loose and fall in, but without drawings of the structural details, he can't state anything definitively

Engineers, he says, try to balance very carefully the cost of the safety against the probablilies... a lot depends on where that fine line is drawn in this case. Then, he says, a lot of what the engineers have designed safety-wise will be for naught if the contractors cheat or cut costs.

There are too many factors in play to feel confident that the Superdome is safe, and we will be praying throughout the storm for the people taking shelter there.