In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Superdome became a symbol of relief efforts gone wrong, a scene of heartbreaking misery for thousands.
But no decision has been made about the future of the iconic city structure, and the manager of the domed stadium expects it will take more than two months to get a damage assessment and determine whether the Superdome should be repaired or razed.
The last storm victims stuck at the Superdome climbed aboard evacuation buses Saturday, leaving millions of dollars of damage behind -- a flooded field, overflowing bathrooms, a sea of garbage up to 5 feet deep and a wretched stench.
Three large holes marred the roof. In all, about 70 percent of the roof failed. Water poured into the building during the storm, along with debris.
Elevators, escalators and ceiling tiles were damaged. Two inches of water were on the field in some places, and the entire field where the New Orleans Saints play their football games must be removed.
There's damage to seats, bathrooms and other interior areas from the thousands of evacuees who were stranded in the building.
Although the damage is severe, Doug Thornton, a regional vice president for the company that manages the Superdome, said it will take about two months to do a full assessment — and only after an estimated two weeks of cleanup and hazardous waste removal.
"It&aposs very early at this point to speculate about the future of the Dome and whether it can be repaired," Thornton said.
The Superdome was used as a shelter of last resort for those who couldn't scramble out of town ahead of Hurricane Katrina, but it wasn't equipped with supplies for those stuck there. Buses took days to arrive and finally move people out.
Thornton estimated repairs to the building would be a minimum $100 million, but demolition and construction of a new stadium could cost between $500 million and $600 million.
Finances aren't the only considerations though. There are psychological ones, too, Thornton said.
Many likely will remember the Superdome as a haven for misery and despair, but the building is a 30-year-old icon to many New Orleanians that could be the symbol of recovery from Katrina, he said.
"There are a lot of good memories in the dome: Final Fours, papal visits. There was a president nominated there," he said. "Certainly, there are a lot of bad memories, but there are good memories too."
The neighboring arena, used to house 800 special medical needs patients before they were evacuated, sustained some water damage mainly in the locker room and media area and wind damage to the exterior of the building and the outside video board. Thornton said it's possible the arena could be repaired within six months.
