To the east of the eye would have produced the worse wind damage. To the west of the eye would have produced the worse flood damage.
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Katrina tears away pieces of Superdome's roof
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hurricane Katrina ripped away pieces of the roof of the Superdome, where thousands of New Orleans residents sought shelter from 145 mph winds.
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At the Superdome, home to 9,000 storm refugees, wind peeled off pieces of metal on the golden roof, leaving two holes that were visible from the floor. Water dripped in, and people were moved away.
Others stayed and watched as sheets of metal, flapped and rumbled loudly. From the floor, looking up more than 19 stories, it appeared to be openings of about 6 feet long.
General Manager Glenn Menard said he did not know how serious the problem was. “We have no way of getting anyone up there to look,” he said.
Scores of windows were blown out at some of New Orleans’ hotels.
Katrina, which had strengthened a day before into a 175-mph Category 5 behemoth before weakening, still had hurricane winds extending 120 miles from its center.
Along U.S. 90 in Mississippi, the major coastal route that is home to the state’s glitzy casinos, sailboats were washed onto the four-lane highway, which was deserted and flooded in areas.
“This is a devastating hit — we’ve got boats that have gone into buildings,” Gulfport Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said as he maneuvered around downed trees in the city. “What you’re looking at is Camille II.”