Photo By Brigida Sanchez | Sub-contractors install a blue roof. Men and women come from all over Florida to...... read more read more
SARASOTA, Fla. (Oct. 17, 2024) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Operation Blue Roof Program contractors install first blue roof at a record-setting pace, one-week post-storm and one day after the issuance of the notice to proceed, in the wake of the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
"Today is a really proud moment installing the first blue roof and helping the people of Florida get back into their homes and start putting their lives back together," said Col. Brandon Bowman, Commander, Jacksonville District.
A week ago, when Hurricane Milton was preparing to cut a swath of destruction through Florida, Patrick York decided to ride the storm out in the family home in Sarasota while his parents were in Tennessee.
“I kind of knew what to expect having been through previous storms. I was anticipating the roof to be damaged and have some missing shingles but once I got up there after the storm, I knew immediately the damage was far worse than expected and the roof would need to be replaced,” said York.
York’s parents have lived in their Sarasota home for nearly 50 years, raising five children along the way. Hurricane Milton’s rage caused severe damage to their roof and is the reason he applied to the program for assistance. The York home is one of, soon to be thousands of, blue roofs to be installed across 25 counties that stretch from the southwest coast across the state to the east coast.
York said his sister referred him to a link on Facebook.
“I started calling since day one and got a recording saying a mission was pending,” said York. “I kept calling a few times a day until two days ago, when I was notified, the link was active.”
York immediately submitted the request and within an hour, was told he was eligible.
“This was a very quick and easy process. I thought it would take a month to get the blue roof, however, I am glad you guys are here, ready to rock and roll and get this thing done and that’s peace of mind for me.”
According to Nicole Cominoli, Mission Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, after a storm, such as a hurricane, many people are left to find shelter outside of their homes due to roof damage.
The purpose of the Corps of Engineers Blue Roof Program is to install fiber reinforced plastic sheeting to damaged residential roofs.
“By installing temporary roofs, we restore a sense of normalcy for people during a chaotic and stressful time. Our primary goal is to get people back into their homes as quickly as we can, while also delivering a quality product,” said Cominoli.
The free assistance program to homeowners is called Operation Blue Roof, which is a primary mission program managed by USACE for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), that reduces further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made.
“I feel so relieved that this happening because I was going to have to try to find another solution,” said York. “But now I know it’s going to be done right and it’s going to be done nice and give us the protection until we figure out what is needed to move forward..”
After completed assessments of impacts from Hurricane Milton, USACE, on behalf of FEMA, has initiated the Operation Blue Roof program for 25 Florida counties.
"We are getting these roofs on as fast as possible and will get it done in a timely manner,” said Bowman. “USACE works quickly with installs once the disaster occurs to the time the first blue roof is placed.”
USACE is estimating the mission to take between six and eight weeks, depending on how many applications are received and how geographically spread out the residences are. With 25 counties currently eligible for the program, it may take a little longer.
“If you know of other friends or family members within the eligible counties that have damage to their roofs, tell them about the program so they can get registered,” said Bowman.
The deadline to sign up for the Blue Roof program is November 5, 2024.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District on the district’s website at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JaxStrong.’
For Blue Roof information, visit the Jacksonville district’s Hurricane Milton website at https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/Hurricane-Milton/
| Date Taken: | 10.17.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.17.2024 13:53 |
| Story ID: | 483355 |
| Location: | SARASOTA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 215 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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