FEMA Grants Temp Roofs for Prior Inundated Homes in Orleans Parish

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has directed Orleans Parish residents with a home that has been structurally tagged green or yellow apply at one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Right of Entry (ROE) collection sites if they need a blue roof. To qualify, a resident must place the statement “I intend to occupy the home within 30 days” on the ROE form.

The ROE collection is scheduled to open on Wed., Dec. 7, and they are scheduled to close on Jan. 7, 2006. Orleans Parish has a blanket ROE in place but, residents with a green or yellow tagged home are asked to fill out an ROE to show an intent to occupy their home. Rights of Entry allow Corps’ inspectors and their contractors to enter private property to install the temporary blue roofs.

For a home to qualify for the Blue Roof Program, the home must have at least 50 percent of the structural roof remaining (rafters & decking) and it must be an asphalt-shingled pitched roof. Flat, tile, slate or metal roofs do not qualify for a blue roof due to their limited effectiveness on non-pitched asphalt roofs.

Residents should call 1-888-ROOF- BLU (1-888-766-3258) and apply for the Blue Roof Program. The temporary roof program – also known as Operation Blue Roof – is a FEMA-assigned mission to the Corps of Engineers.

Blue Roof ROE Centers are opening Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the following Disaster Recovery Centers.

Disaster Recovery Center #4
101 France Street
Baton Rouge, La.
HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Disaster Recovery Center #20
Laurel Elementary School
820 Jackson Ave.
New Orleans, La. 70130
HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Disaster Recovery Center #34
Jewish Community Center
5342 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, La. 70115
HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Disaster Recovery Center #54
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Ave.
(on corner of Loyola & Tulane Ave.)
New Orleans, La. 70112
HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Disaster Recovery Center #55
Lake Forest Plaza Mall, Parking Lot 3
I-10 Exit 244, Read Blvd.
New Orleans, La. 70127
HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

ROE’s can be taken over the phone and faxed by calling 1-866-632-0030 if the owner is unable to go to one of the walk-in centers.