The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now collecting Right of Entry forms for homeowners wishing to apply for temporary roofing. The Right of Entry centers are now open Humacao and Yabucoa.
Personnel at these center are collecting Right of Entry forms which are necessary for residents who want to apply for temporary roofing. These centers will be open Oct. 13th, 14th and 15th from 8 a.m, to 5 p.m. The specific locations are:
- Humacao: Centro De Gobierno Municipal Atanasio Martinez (Alcadia/City Hall) in the parking lot.
- Yabucoa: Parque del Niño Carretera 901 near Burger King.
FEMA may provide emergency roof covering under the following circumstances:
1. The structure is the primary residence of the individual or household requesting emergency roof covering.
2. The residence has sufficient roof framing intact (more than 50%) to support the plastic sheeting as a temporary repair, and will otherwise be capable of providing safe shelter once the plastic sheeting is installed. Roofs with framing intact, but with up to 100% of the decking gone, will be repaired if deemed feasible by USACE.
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.
4. The roof to be repaired is composed of standard roof shingles, or a similar material which lends itself toward temporary repair with plastic sheeting or similar method. Metal roofs will be repaired as practical on a case-by-case basis. Roofs composed of materials such as slat, asbestos, or clay tile, or other material which would be exceptionally difficult to repair or likely to be damaged, shall not be roofed. Mobile homes will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will be covered if practical.
Background on the program:
The temporary roof, known as a "blue roof" because of the blue plastic material used, is designed to provide temporary protection from the elements so that the residents may safely inhabit their homes and reduce the chance of further damage from the elements. Hurricane Maria damaged the roofs of thousands of homes, hospitals and other critical infrastructure across Puerto Rico.
Operation Blue Roof is a program offered by FEMA through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to eligible homeowners and landlords. It provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. The blue plastic sheeting is installed using strips of wood that are secured to the roof with nails or screws. The homeowner/landlord must legally agree to allow the Corps contractors access to the property by signing a Right of Entry (ROE) form.
The ROE is a legal requirement that allows Corps employees to access the property and assess damage to the home. The ROE also allows contracted crews to work on the roof. Only applicants in primary residences are eligible to receive a temporary blue roof. The plastic is a reinforced, water-proof material that is designed to protect the structure temporarily until permanent repairs can be made.
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