<p>The Ga dome is packed with spectators for the SEC tournament (current game that was in play- Miss. State vs Alabama). Severe thunderstorms, with winds and possible tornadoes are in the area. The scaffolding in the dome started to sway severely, a side panel was damaged up near the roof with metal and insulation raining down on the fans, and the giant scoreboard started to sway. People thought the “railroad” sound was fans stomping their feet. Apparently there is damage to CNN center, part of the Omni Hotel attached to the CNN Center/Ga Dome/Convention Center area, trees and billboards down, some cars flipped on the highway, power and traffic lights out, etc. They have not confirmed if this was just severe winds or a tornado, but there are tornado warnings all over town . There is a lot going on in downtown Atlanta this evening. This is going to be interesting… [Possible</a> tornado hits Atlanta - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/03/14/atlanta.tornado/index.html]Possible”>Possible tornado hits Atlanta - CNN.com)</p>
<p>With the mess downtown and possible additional bad weather looming, the second of tonight’s games Georgia vs Kentucky, has been cancelled. Preliminary pictures of downtown show lots of shattered windows, trees down, cars damaged, traffic lights out, metal debris and insulation all over the place, etc. There are several injuries, but no reported fatalities, thank heavens.</p>
<p>Who cares? Georgia and Kentucky both suck anyway. The national championshi will be Duke vs. UCLA I believe. Why is the Georgia Dome such a poorly built structure anyway? I think it shows how inefficient the state of Georgia has become.</p>
<p>Spliter- when you learn how to control the weather, let someone know.</p>
<p>after watching the video of the damage, I was impressed with the Georgia Dome’s withstanding the apparently direct hit of a tornado with so little relative damage. Surrounding buildings were very badly damaged.</p>
<p>[Rescuers</a> search for Atlanta tornado victims - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/14/storm.atlanta/index.html]Rescuers”>Rescuers search for Atlanta tornado victims - CNN.com) This morning’s news says it was a confirmed tornado. There are several video clip links on the cnn article posted here. Given the force of the winds and extend of damage, the Dome held up remarkably well.</p>
<p>Wow…watching the news. The damage is amazing. (Interestingly, Tyler Hansbrough’s younger brother, the very talented Ben Hansbrough is on the Mississippi State team that was playing in the dome when the tornado hit.)</p>
<p>jym - I hear you have rough weather headed your way again today. Hope you are taking precautions! Be safe!</p>
<p>Yeah there is bad weather heading this way again and dd is at Laguardia waiting to catch her 1:20 flight home for spring break … :eek:</p>
<p>Not only SEC basketball, but one of the biggest dental meetings in the country is there this weekend: [Hinman</a> 2008 - Atlanta, Georgia, March 13-15, 2008](<a href=“http://www.hinman.org/index.html]Hinman”>http://www.hinman.org/index.html) and The Omni is one of their preferred hotels. Heard from a few friends who are OK.</p>
<p>The SEC now has to refund all those fans since only the families of the players are allowed to watch the SEC tournament now as it has been relocated to Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>Weather alarm still going bonkers. Apparently baseball-sezed hail in places. Sky looks very eerie outside. H just saw on TV, a huge storm about a mile away on either side of us, but it is clear where we are.</p>
<p>Churchmusicmom, I hope your D has been able to work something out with travel. I can’t imagine the airport is landing too many flights right now. Any chance she could catch a flight to Charlotte, or another less “weathered” area, and you could go get her?</p>
<p>Yes, the weather continues to be ominous. I’ve been all over town today, and fortunately so far have avoided all the bad stuff. Was first at a meeting over on your side of town, binx, from 10-1, then to a funeral (yes, <em>another</em> funeral…) at 2 over near where we had lunch, binx, and am soon off to a wedding rehearsal dinner tonight up in Alpharetta, which is north of town (wedding is tomorrow in Ogelthorpe College’s library-- that should be pretty). My H kept giving me weather updates from our side of town (tornado sirens went off several times, the cable went out, etc). He was able to meet me at the funeral and get home safe, though the alarms went off again before I got home from my errands. Glad my ds#2 is in Fla on spring break, nand havign some fun. Thanks for the kind thoughts ldmom06-- so far we’ve been able to steer clear of the bad stugg. More is likely this evening, so think good thoughts for us!</p>
<p>almost forgot–
audio- We met some people last weekend at a restaurant who were in for a orthodonture conference. I am assuming the big dental conference is a separate conference. they did talk about it on the news this morning, mentioning that they had to move several people from one of the Omni hotel towers to the other due to the damage to the hotel rooms. there was also a broken water pipe in the basement of the convention center (I think-- it might have been Phillips arena- I have to double ck) but the footage of the water pouring down the stairs was incredible. It looked like a fountain withthe water cascading sownthe stairs.</p>
<p>Update: dd arrived safely and on time from NYC into Atlanta. Managed to come in just before the severe weather hit the airport area, evidently (landed just before 4 pm). She said the ride in was pretty exciting, though! :eek:</p>
<p>That’s amazing. I saw weather maps of the airport around then and thought no way would they be trying to land planes! Glad she made it though.</p>
<p>The storms went either side of us. We didn’t even get rain! Got some cool photos - black skies and brilliant sun-lit neighborhood.</p>
<p>My sympathies to the people and property owners affected by these storms… but … who cares about a stupid basketball game? The REAL issue is that the FIRST Robotics Championships are scheduled for the GWCC and the Georgia Dome on April 16-19, and I have until TOMORROW to confirm my flight arrangements. So – no way for me to find out if the venue is even going to be available before committing to the no-change, no-refund tickets. Stinks. The airlines stink, too, but that’s a different rant.</p>
<p>Four years in FIRST and the first time we are invited to the Championships the venue is hit by a tornado. Bad juju.</p>
<p>Washdad-
The GWCC (Georgia World Congress Center) was pretty badly damaged. Lots of roof damage. Repair estimates in the many millions. They are trying to move events to other venues. I’ll see what I can find out.</p>
<p>Washdad-
Check out this clip [Video</a> from a knocked-down Atlanta - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/15/storm.video/index.html]Video”>Video from a knocked-down Atlanta - CNN.com) of the broken pipe causing a “waterfall” in the GWCC. The clip is pretty shaky, but look at the surrounding damage to the walls. Its pretty bad.</p>
<p>Washdad-
This local tv station is setting up a place for facilities to post what is closed due to the storm damage [11Alive.com</a> - Home - WXIA-TV, Atlanta Georgia News, events, sports, Atlanta Georgia weather](<a href=“http://www.11alive.com/]11Alive.com”>http://www.11alive.com/) No news on the GWCC and specific events yet. All they did talk on the news about was what scheduled events for THIS weekend were being moved. They are working diligently to get the downtown area cleaned up. I am sure they want to make the facilities as safe as possible as quickly as possible. There are lots of events and there is lots of revenue at stake. The first tornado, the one that hit downtown Fri night, was estimated to be 200 yds wide and cut a 6 mi swath through the city. Additional tornadoes hit near the airport and then north of Atlanta yesterday. The weather today is, fortunately, beautiful and they are hard at work to get things cleaned up and repaired. I am off to a wedding. Will ck back later.</p>
<ul>
<li>Here is the calendar of upcoming events at the GWCC [About</a> the GWCC Calendars](<a href=“http://www.gwcc.com/calendar/gwcc.html]About”>http://www.gwcc.com/calendar/gwcc.html) Lots of things schdduled and I am sure they want to try to be able to keep as amany as possible.</li>
</ul>
<p>Washdad, in today’s Atlanta paper it says that the GWCC in the next few days is calling all organizers for major events coming up. They will be making detailed assessments of structural damage so they can then make whatever arrangements are necessary. There is some sort of regional volleyball qualifying event scheduled for this Wed., and they have not called that off yet.</p>
<p>I suspect your best bet would be to get on the FIRST website and contact them to see if they have made any alternative arrangements. I feel so badly for you, and I realize this info is not really helpful, but BIG congrats on making it to Nationals!! I do hope you get to come to Atlanta.</p>