Amusment Parks Vs. Natural Disaster

Now I know that a park with roller coasters like Cedar Point would never appear in the southern states that are hit by hurricanes. But, What do you think would happens to parks like Disney World and Busch Garden when hurricanes hit. I know they close down but is there usually damage done to the parks. Also what do you guys think would happen if TTD and MF were at a park like that and was hit by a hurricane or a earthquake. I already know that they probably wouldnt build roller coasters like that there but I think it be intersting to find out what would happen.

At PKI there sign fell down due to high winds last year or 2 years ago and they just built a bigger better one.

The rides at CP are designed to withstand tornado forces. Most of the coasters really don't have much structure for the wind to blow on, unlike buildings and such that are totally solid.

Dragster and Millennium are designed to allow as much air to pass through them as possible. Don't forget that the winds 310 or 420 feet up are a bit stronger than they are on ground level.

All rides and buildings at an amusement park are usually built quite a bit stronger than the codes specify. I know that right after each hurricane last year in Florida both Universal and Disney opened up as soon as they were allowed to.

If any parks were in Katrina's way, I would say, GOODBYE. Way too much rain/wind/hail/tornadoes

I know what you guys mean but even at 150+ mph winds the coaster would be shaking a lot if not coming down. Also you have to add in the effect of flying metal, huge trees, ect. What do you guys think about a TTd or MF in an earthquake area would it be damaged or totaled.

I would be interesting to see what CP would do if TTD or MF got destroyed in a earthquake or tornado.

I can think of...4 options at the moment..

1. Shake it off and go on with business
2. Rebuild them exaclty
3. Rebuild them with Minor mods
4. Go bigger than them both with one uber tall super-coaster.
5.
6.
7.

The rest are yours to fill in.

A hurricane would totally destroy Disaster Transport. And I'm thinking the Magnum would sink ;)

Earthquakes....hurricanes......Ohio? ;)

There have been earthquakes in Ohio. At least two since I've been alive. They weren't nearly large enough to kill a roller coaster, but they exist. :)

Dont forget about coney island in ohio. It was located on the banks of I think the ohio river. It flooded so bad that the park was dismantled and what could be sold was.

There is nothing that is indestructable in comparison to Mother Nature. An F5 tornado could easily take out MF of TTD

Maybe one day Lake Erie will flood right over the CP peninsula.

Millennium Force 101 said:
At PKI there sign fell down due to high winds last year or 2 years ago and they just built a bigger better one.

Photos of the resulting mess if you are interested. I visited PKI the day after the sign came down.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Raptor120 hit the nail on the head... its not so much about wind speed as it is what is in the wind... some of the debris piles near NO & MS are 10-20 feet deep. That much debris (boats, trees, dogs, CP souveneir mugs, Mediterranean Swallows, very small rocks, etc.) inside 100+mph winds could bring down MF, TTD, MS, Gemini, Maggie, BS, SRF, WWL, Raptor, Mantis, PT, DT... well, you get the idea.

Now, the more profound worry would actually be how the hurricane made it all the way to Sandusky... ;)
*** Edited 9/1/2005 10:41:10 AM UTC by djDaemon***

I HATE Six Flags said:
If any parks were in Katrina's way, I would say, GOODBYE. Way too much rain/wind/hail/tornadoes

You mean like Six Flags New Orleans. http://www.sixflags.com/parks/neworleans/index.asp

They are located right on Lake Pontchartrain with the gulf not to far away either.

I'm glad all of you are weather and structural experts.

I'm a weather expert. :)