New Orleans, LA (My Sportsbook) - Not even the Louisiana Superdome could withstand the fierce winds and rain caused by Hurricane Katrina, as the massive sports complex suffered two holes in its curved roof on Monday.

Katrina has been wreaking havoc through the U.S. Gulf Coast and New Orleans neighborhoods the past few days, and took its path of destruction to one of the city's popular stadiums and the home of the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

Storm refugees were huddled inside the complex and were soaked with rain because of two holes in an area of vents about 19 stories above the Superdome floor.

According to Doug Thornton, regional manager of the company that manages the complex, the stadium was being used as a shelter and was filled with the sounds of metal banging caused by the heavy winds against the roof's metallic ceiling tiles.

Water damaged elevators and stairwells inside the Superdome, which has a capacity of 77,000. Storm refugees, who slept in the stadium, noted that no sounds were heard through the night until power failed about 5:00 a.m. (ct) Monday.

Home of six Super Bowls, the Superdome opened its doors to storm victims on Sunday, and residents in the most need were taken care of first. Thornton added almost 9,000 people were inside before the stadium doors closed at 11:00 p.m.

According to Gen. Ralph Lupin of the National Guard, more than 600 victims with medical needs such as strokes, chest pain and diabetes were scattered among the crowd inside the dome. Sick babies were being attended to as well.

The Saints have moved their practices to San Jose, California, while Louisiana State University announced on its website that activities will be closed on Monday, August 29 and Tuesday, August 30. All practices for the Tigers' athletic teams have been postponed as well.

"The team decided...that it would be best to first consider the safety of our organization and our families," Saints director of media and public relations Greg Bensel said in a team release. "We decided to leave as late as possible on Sunday to give everyone enough time to take care of their personal situations and to ensure that everyone's family was out of harm's way.

We will practice on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and play Thursday," Bensel added. "Our plans for flying home will be determined once we see what kind of condition the city is in. We are all hoping for the best for the city and the people that remain."

Tulane University also uses the dome and moved its practices to Jackson, Mississippi. The New Orleans Zephyrs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, canceled home action for the remainder of the season.

The Superdome opened on September 28, 1975, when the Saints lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 21-0, before 52,531 spectators.

The stadium, which covers 13 acres and is 27 stories tall, hosts numerous other events other than football. It has hosted baseball and basketball games, trade shows, conventions, concerts, and many other events.