Superdome part 2

To follow on from my post last night, note that hurricane Katrina weakened to a category 4 storm before making landfall, and is passing to the east of New Orleans thus sparing the city the brunt a direct hit.

As of 8AM CT time, CNN is reporting that a portion of the Louisiana Superdome's roof had begun to peel away. Thousands of people were sheltering in the enormous domed football stadium, considered one of the most sturdily constructed buildings in the city and designed to resist high winds.

So far it's an issue of leaks rather than major structural damage. Keeping fingers crossed.

A bad place to be

From USA Today's website. I think this says it all:

There were reports of New Orleans homes being flooded to the ceiling. "I'm not doing too good right now," Chris Robinson said via cell phone from his home east of the city's downtown. "The water's rising pretty fast. I got a hammer and an ax and a crowbar, but I'm holding off on breaking through the roof until the last minute. Tell someone to come get me please. I want to live."