Army Corps passes 5,000-blue roof installation milestone; program sign-ups end Nov. 16

Courtesy Photo | The Task Force Michael UAS team conducted a flyover of Mexico Beach, Florida, Nov. 11 – more than 30 days after Hurricane Michael hit the Florida panhandle. A lone structure had temporary roofing installed after qualifying for the repair as part of Operation Blue Roof. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, overseeing the Blue Roof program, has installed more than 5,000 of the reinforced sheeting as a way to protect property and allow residents to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm.  

85134, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

11.12.2018

Story by Edward Loomis 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Atlantic Division

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Contractors managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers here in Florida passed the 5,000th blue roof installation milestone for Hurricane Michael survivors on November 11.

“Weather, program sign-ups and contractor access to residences set the pace for our installation work,” Ben Bremer, USACE lead resident engineer for Operation Blue Roof, said. “We want our contractors to work quickly and safely to install blue roofs for qualifying homeowners to help protect their property.”

The purpose of Operation Blue Roof is to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced plastic sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. Operation Blue Roof protects property, reduces temporary housing costs, and allows residents to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm. This is a free service to homeowners.

USACE will continue to collect rights of entry (ROE) forms for Operation Blue Roof through Friday, Nov. 16 at the remaining collection sites and online (www.usace.army.mil/blueroof):

• Bay County DRC - Bay County Public Library, 898 West 11th Street, Panama City, FL 32401

• Bay County - Walmart Supercenter, 2101 S FL-77, Lynn Haven, FL 32444

• Calhoun County DRC - Sam Atkins Park, NW Silas Green Street, Blountstown, FL 32424

• Gadsden County DRC - (Old) Gretna Elementary School, 706 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Gretna, FL 32332

• Gulf County - Port Saint Joe Library, 110 Library Drive, Port Saint Joe, FL 32456

• Jackson County DRC - University Extension Office, 2741 Penn Avenue, Marianna, FL 32448

Eligibility requirements:

• Only primary residences with standard shingled roofs are eligible to receive a temporary blue roof.

• Metal roofs and mobile homes may be repaired as practical on a case-by-case basis.

• Roofs with greater than 50 percent structural damage are not eligible for this program.

• Every owner or landlord that has a signed Right of Entry form will be visited.

• If a home is being rented, the tenant must provide written permission from the owner prior to signing Right of Entry.

ROEs submitted Nov. 16 or prior will be evaluated and Blue Roof installations will continue as normal until complete.

Program management staff closed two ROE collection sites the same day it reached the 5,000-milestone due to declining numbers of residents submitting rights of entry forms:

• Bay County - Walmart, 15495 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

• Gulf County - Wewahitchka Information Center, 237 FL-71, Wewahitchka, FL 32465

USACE continues to warn homeowners of fraudulent programs that may be representing themselves as Operation Blue Roof.

Signs of fraud may include:

• No USACE quality assurance assessment

• No USACE contractor with valid work order

• Asking for payment

• Soliciting by paper applications

Homeowners who may suspect they are being scammed should contact FEMA (866-720-5721, TTY 844-889-4357), the Corps (888-766-3258) or local law enforcement. Homeowners may also report fraud in person at any ROE collection center.

Current information is available at www.usace.army.mil/blueroof and at 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258). Information is provided in both English and Spanish through this single number.

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Images of the first blue roof installation on October 19 are available at: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4836255/operation-blue-roof

FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.

For a list of resources available to individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Michael, visit www.floridadisaster.org/info

For more Hurricane Michael recovery information, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4399.

Follow FEMA and the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Twitter at @FEMARegion4 and @FLSERT. You may also visit FEMA and the Division’s Facebook pages at Facebook.com/FEMA and Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

• Date Taken: 11.12.2018
• Date Posted: 11.13.2018 09:52
• Story ID: 299653
• Location: 85134, FLORIDA, US