News Releases

Corps Contractors Complete 50,000th Blue Roof Installation

Published Jan. 23, 2018

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- Contractors working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed the 50,000th blue roof Tuesday for Puerto Rico residences damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria, approaching three-quarters of buildings approved for the program.

“The Corps Blue Roof team and its contractors have overcome communication and logistical post-storm challenges and have installed nearly 1,000 blue roofs per day over the last two weeks,” Michael Feldmann, the Recovery Field Office-Puerto Rico Temporary Roofing Mission Manager said. “We expect to install up to 68,000 before we’re done.”

Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 storm as it passed north of Puerto Rico on September 7 and its high winds lashed the island’s northern coast and communities. Hurricane Maria passed directly over Puerto Rico on September 20 with wind speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.

Over 78,000 residents applied for blue roofs for damaged buildings and assessors approved over 68,000 applications. For a residence to qualify for a blue roof installation, it could not have flat or concrete roof, and the building had to be structurally stable with at least half of its roof substructure intact.

The Corps’ blue roofs are temporary repairs, intended to last 30 days and provide the homeowner an opportunity to find a permanent fix. Blue roofs require a professional roofing team to install.

With the blue roof application and rights-of-entry deadline passed, residents are encouraged to call the FEMA Disaster Assistance Helpline for emergency roof repair options at 800-621-FEMA (3362).

 

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Contact
Ed Loomis
347.585.6466
edward.loomis@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-013