Superdome roof survived Isaac intact

The nearly 10-acre roof of the Superdome in New Orleans became a symbol of Hurricane Katrina's destruction in 2005, but the new, improved roof survived Hurricane Isaac just fine.

Superdome manager Doug Thornton said Friday that Isaac did cause some damage to the dome, including some sheet metal damage to exhaust vents. His early estimate of repair costs is $75,000 to $100,000 — a far cry from the $157 million in storm damage repairs covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Katrina.

Thornton says the roof covering installed after Katrina is made of a seamless polyurethane material. The old, rubber roof had overlapping seams. When Katrina's winds caught the seams, it led to holes and damage that contributed to the misery of those who had taken shelter there.