The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed the first temporary roof for the Operation Blue Roof program last Saturday in Collier County.
“The first temporary roof installation is a significant milestone for people impacted by Hurricane Irma,” District Commander Col. Jason Kirk said. “The blue covers are a tangible sign to the community that ensuring their safety, security and peace of mind is our top priority.”
Operation Blue Roof provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. The blue plastic sheeting is installed using strips of wood that are secured to the roof with nails or screws.
This program is available at no cost to eligible primary homeowners in Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties. Other counties may be added at a later date.
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.
For rental property, legal permission for a blue roof to be installed must be obtained from the property owner. Renters must also obtain legal permission from their landlord to continue occupying the residence until more permanent repairs are made.
Homeowners must sign a Right of Entry (ROE) form to allow government employees and contractors onto their property to assess damage and install the temporary covering. ROE collection centers will be set up by Army Corps teams in convenient neighborhood locations. Updated information about collection center locations in each county will be distributed daily.
Current information is available on the Jacksonville District web site at www.saj.usace.army.mil/blueroof and at 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258). Information is provided in both English and Spanish.
