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About Operation Blue Roof

Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of Operation Blue Roof is to provide homeowners and permanently occupied rental properties in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs. This is a free service to homeowners. Operation Blue Roof protects property, reduces temporary housing costs, and allows residents to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm.

The Right of Entry (ROE) is a legal document that allows Corps workers to access your property and assess damage to your home. The ROE also allows contracted crews to work on your roof.

No Cost: There are no costs associated with the Blue Roof program. Please contact the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 if someone is attempting to charge for Operation Blue Roof services.

Hurricane Ian Update

The Hurricane Ian temporary roofing mission is complete. USACE completed 20,125 installs in southwest Florida. 

For homeowner inquiries about their temporary roof install please e-mail [email protected].

Homeowners wanting to acquire photos of the roof installation should submit a Freedom of Information Act request to [email protected].

Hurricane Ian Graphic

Operation Blue Roof

Emergency Operations

Useful Links

Latest News

Charleston District engineer helps pick up the pieces left behind From Hurricane Ian
3/2/2023
With roaring winds, relentless rain, and surging waves, Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa and Fort Myers, Florida shortly after 3 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2022. For the next 24 hours, Ian would...
National Roofing Program inspects Army Reserve facilities following Hurricane Ian
1/31/2023
When Hurricane Ian hit south Florida last fall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked in partnership with local, state and federal agencies to respond to the natural disaster. Every year, USACE, as...
USACE Works to Reinitiate Storm Risk Management Study for Collier County
1/27/2023
A small team consisting of leaders, planners, project managers, environmental scientist from the North Atlantic Division, Norfolk and Jacksonville districts, travelled around with representatives from...
VIEW MORE

Do I qualify for Operation Blue Roof?

Once a mission has been assigned to USACE from FEMA at the request of the affected state, here is what would qualify for the Blue Roof Program. 

  1. The home must be the primary residence* of the person or household requesting the emergency roof covering; AND
  2. The residence has NO more than 50 percent of the roof framing damaged. The framing must support the plastic sheeting as a temporary repair, and be able to provide safe shelter once contractors install the tarp; AND
  3. The resident certifies that he or she is the owner of the residence requested to be covered OR is a renter that has obtained legal permission to continue occupying the residence until more permanent repairs are made; AND
  4. The resident certifies that they will shelter in the residence that they have requested to be covered; AND
  5. The roof must be standard roof shingles, or a similar material that will allow contractors to nail the tarp in place. Contractors will consider repairs to metal roofs and mobile homes on a case-by-case basis and will install the cover if possible.  Contractors cannot cover roofs made of materials such as slate, asbestos or clay tile, or other material which would be exceptionally difficult to repair, or would likely be damaged during tarp installation.

Operation Blue Roof is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

 

Helpful Tips

  • Remove debris from your roof.
  • Secure your pets. Homeowners with pets who have submitted Right of Entry forms should ensure pets are placed inside or properly restrained away from the structure in order for workers to safely access the roof. A loose animal on the property may cause a delay in the installation of temporary roofing.
  • Beware of solicitations.  Blue Roof representatives never solicit participation, nor will they ask for Social Security or bank account numbers.
  • Look for identification. Corps employees who do assessments for Operation Blue Roof carry U.S. Government ID cards. If you don’t see it, ask for it. Contractors will have a copy of signed Right of Entry form.
  • If you get a call. Representatives from Operation Blue Roof may call to clarify information or location, but they will not ask for sensitive information.
  • Don’t pay. Operation Blue Roof is free to residents.
  • If in doubt.  Report people claiming to be government workers to local law-enforcement agencies or to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721.