roof, it was an incredible and frightening sight. >> i was hoping that it wouldn't collapse. >> reporter: like countless others, belrose took refuge here in the 11th hour sunday. she said she couldn't afford to take her blind father any pl >> soun seen ceiling, you could see the light from the outside coming in. and water was coming everywhere. it was raining just like it was raining outside. >> reporter: when the superdome was finished in 1975, authorities were convinced it was strong enough to withstand a category 5 hurricane, 200-mile-per-hour winds. but this was the first real test. cynthia and her husband packed what little they could, not sure if they'd have a home to return to. then this. >> definitely was frightening. at home when you hear that kind of noise you can move and get out of the way. here, the roof is so huge, so heavy. >> reporter: which is precisely