FEMA EXTENDS OPERATION BLUE ROOF DEADLINE TO OCT. 23

AUSTIN, Texas –Property owners wanting a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “Blue Roof” have extra time to visit Right-of-Entry (ROE) Collection Centers in Harris, Galveston and Jefferson counties.

Property owners must complete the ROEs before contractors can install the 100-square-foot temporary coverings usable on roofs damaged less than 50 percent. Visits must be made in person to the collection centers so that officials can verify identity.

The polyethylene overlays, often incorrectly referred to as “tarps,” are free, paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and installed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors. More than 11,000 Blue Roofs have been installed as part of the Hurricane Ike disaster recovery operation.

Texas residents can call 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258) to find the nearest location to sign a Right of Entry form. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

All collection centers were scheduled to close Oct. 13, but the 13 offices in Harris, Galveston and Jefferson counties will remain open until Oct. 23 to take ROE forms.

Centers operating in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Hardin, Liberty, Montgomery, Orange, Polk and Walker Counties will close as scheduled on Monday, Oct. 13. However, property owners in any of the counties declared for federal assistance may request a Blue Roof through any ROE center. Online submission of ROE forms is not available due to the identification requirements.

“We’re glad that more people are going to have the chance to apply for the temporary roofing repairs through the program,” said Col. David Weston, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recovery field office in Pasadena, Texas. “This will give us the opportunity to help even more people who were impacted by Ike get a little bit of stability in their lives while they rebuild.”

The property where the roof will be installed must be a primary residence or a permanently occupied rental property. Vacation rentals are not eligible. The Corps will not install Blue Roofs on tiled or flat roofs and metal roofs are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Turnaround time for the repairs is currently running about two weeks from the time the ROE is received.

The roofs are designed to be temporary. While they may last longer, they are certified only for 30 days.

Blue Roof qualifications have nothing to do with other FEMA assistance and will not reduce benefits. Blue Roof representatives never solicit participation nor will they ask for financial information or Social Security numbers. Installation contractors will have a copy of a property owners’ signed ROE form and may occasionally call to clarify information.

More information about the Hurricane Ike disaster in Texas is available online at www.fema.gov or www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Operation Blue Roof information is available at www.swf.usace.army.mil.

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FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the Operation Blue Roof program on behalf of FEMA. The program is a free service to help home owners by installing plastic sheeting to serve as temporary roofing on damaged homes.