Benny Pettit, quality assurance representative for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers debris removal mission in southwest Georgia, wishes friends, family and co-workers back home a Happy Holidays. Pettit, Vicksburg District, is a water treatment plant operator at Enid Lake in northern Mississippi. More than 125 employees from across the Corps will be spending the holidays in southwest Georgia working to clear an estimated five million cubic yards of debris left behind by Hurricane Michael. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along with local government officials, started debris removal activity in Georgia, under the direction of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agencies as part of the FEMA debris mission assignment.

As FEMA's Engineers during a disaster – and America's engineers since 1775 – the Corps of Engineers responded after Hurricane Michael struck the Florida panhandle. More than 400 USACE personnel volunteered to assist residents during the recovery process to include assessments on critical public facilities, debris removal and route clearance, temporary emergency power, temporary roofing and technical monitoring for FEMA's temporary housing mission.

Sheila Sollis, Task Force Michael safety officer, discusses her role in ensuring safe practices in the workplace by both U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel and contractor-partners.

Lt. Col. Richard Gussenhoven, Task Force Michael commander, takes a moment to thank U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees and their families for supporting hurricane recovery efforts during the holiday.

Brent Mortimer, Task Force Michal quality assurance, discusses staying physically and mentally fit while working 12-hour days, seven days a week, to help homeowners affected by Hurricane Michael. Video taken Nov. 21 in Port St. Joe, Florida, as Corps of Engineers employees near completion of more than 10,000 initial assessments as part of Operation Blue Roof. The initial assessment is the second step in the Blue Roof process, preceded by homeowners submitting a right-of-entry request allowing Corps of Engineers personnel access to the property to determine eligibility for the free, temporary repair. To date, more than 7,400 of the reinforced plastic sheeting have been installed.

Omri Shafrir, geospatial engineer for Task Force Michael, explains how unmanned aircraft systems and geographic information technology are being used to enable hurricane recovery operations in the Florida panhandle.

Ryan King, quality assurance for Operation Blue Roof, discusses why he chose to support recovery efforts in the Florida panhandle following Hurricane Michael.

Kenneth Matheson, an unmanned aircraft system pilot with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, explains how a fixed-wing drone can support the Operation Blue Roof program by accumulating a trove of data to expedite temporary roof repairs for survivors following a disaster. Matheson and the UAS team he is a part of deployed to Florida to support Corps of Engineers recovery operations following Hurricane Michael.

Richard Ruby, in between conducting Operation Blue Roof initial assessments in Panama City Beach and Lynn Haven, Florida, discusses how he has embraced the opportunity to provide more than a temporary roof repair for the survivors of Hurricane Michael. Richard Ruby is a biologist with the Buffalo District.

Tyler Crubaugh, Operation Blue Roof quality assurance, conducts final inspections on recently-completed installations in Wewahitchka, Florida, Nov. 14. The work is the final step in the Blue Roof process, validating that the installation was completed to Corps of Engineers standards and providing a bit of relief for survivors awaiting permanent repairs. To date, the Corps of Engineers has installed more than 5,000 Blue Roofs on homes damaged during Hurricane Michael. When not deployed, Crubaugh works for the Little Rock District, Southwestern Division, serving as Ozark Powerhouse Senior Mechanic.

Hurricane Michael struck the Florida Panhandle on October 10, 2018. As FEMA's engineers during disasters, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to provide support to those affected by the storm 30 days after it made landfall. (Produced by Luciano Vera)

After a homeowner or landlord submits a Operation Blue Roof Right of Entry request a certified Quality Assurance Specialist visits the home and conducts a full assessment to determine if the property is eligible for the blue reinforced plastic sheeting installation. USACE Little Rock District Quality Assurance Team Lead James Bloxham explains what his team is looking for and provides tips for residents to speed up the assessment. The Operation Blue Roof deadline to sign up is Sunday NOV 11.

USACE launched a pilot program utilizing UAS technology in order to conduct Operation Blue Roof home assessments for Hurricane Michael recovery efforts. The Task Force Michael UAS team is conducting right of entry assessments on homes a quality assurance specialist would be unable to conduct due to safety hazards, debris or home height. This is the first time USACE has used this technology to enhance the Blue Roof Program. Interviews: John Davis, UAS Team, St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; USACE; Chris Ford, Quality Assurance Supervisor. (Produced by Luciano Vera)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division Commanding General Brig. Gen. Diana Holland visits the site of a Blue Roof installation in Panama City Beach, Florida, Oct. 24, 2018. Holland had an opportunity to speak with Richard Gillis, Blue Roof recipient, provides an update on the program and thank the USACE workforce. The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been tasked by FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist eligible homeowners with temporary roof repairs. The program, named Operation Blue Roof, provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. (Produced by Luciano Vera)