"The largest roof job in American construction history" The Louisiana Superdome -- one of the more iconic symbols of last year's Katrina damage, temporary home to thousands of displaced New Orleanians and the semi-permanent home to the NFL Saints -- has a shiny new roof. I hope they won't need another one for a long, long time.
posted by diastematic on Jul 20, 2006 - 7 comments

Rami Chami, a graduate student entering Tulane University, was among those who sought refuge in the Superdome. Chami was formerly an editor at the Indiana Daily Student, and has written a three-part series for the paper about the experience.
"The field before us, which would have been ideal to lay down on was empty, but off bounds. The field was manned by National Guardsmen who would not allow people on it. I was told by those around me that it was a multi-million dollar field which the stadium management did not want ruined."
"Our first choices for a bed that evening were: a wet floor, damp chair or in the reeking but dry hallway."
"The atmosphere in the dome had gotten incredibly tense and the soldiers were walking around with shotguns, which I assumed was an ideal weapon for close quarter combat."
posted by kyleg on Sep 9, 2005 - 26 comments

"They killed a man here last night." Stories of rapes, murders, and suicides are emerging from survivors of the "shelter" of the Superdome. From a National Guard soldier: "We found a young girl raped and killed in the bathroom. Then the crowd got the man and they beat him to death."
posted by cerebus19 on Sep 4, 2005 - 112 comments

The Louisiana Superdome. The moment that thin white membrane flew off the roof to drown, the structure in the center of the storm became a metaphor. That sad, weathered, beaten, and war-torn roof represents the city and its plight.
posted by Jazznoisehere on Sep 3, 2005 - 16 comments