FEMA Providing Temporary Roof Repairs to Wilma-Damaged Homes

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Homeowners in 13 Florida counties affected by Hurricane Wilma last month may be eligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Operation Blue Roof program.

Under the program, temporary plastic sheathing – blue tarps – are installed over residential roofs that were damaged by the hurricane. The installation of the plastic sheathing is provided at no cost to homeowners, and the work is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Sam Miller, executive vice president of the Florida Insurance Council said covering provided under the program is only a temporary one that is designed to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made.

“The insurance industry has positioned hundreds of adjusters throughout the region to assist homeowners in filing and settling claims so that permanent repairs can be made and the temporary plastic sheathing can be removed as soon as possible,” Miller said.

In order to have the temporary repairs made, individual homeowners must first sign the right of entry form available at any one of FEMA’s right of entry collection centers located throughout the affected areas. The right of entry forms (ROE’s) provide government and contractor employees legal access to a homeowner’s property for the purpose of assessing damage and making the temporary repairs.

Once access is granted, workers can assess the amount and type of roof damage and whether installation of blue plastic will constitute an appropriate temporary repair. Only primary residences that have sloped, shingled roofs are eligible to receive a blue roof. Roofs with greater than 50 percent structural damage, metal, tile and flat roofs are not eligible.

Right of entry collection centers are listed below. They are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.

Okeechobee

Agri-Civic Center
2400 SR 70 E
Okeechobee, FL

Brevard

Fire Administration Building
300 Brunson Blvd.
Cocoa

Indian River

Sebastian City Hall
1225 Main St.
Sebastian

Palm Beach

Winn Dixie
900 South Main St. (SR 80)
Belle Glade

Riviera Beach City Hall
Corner of Avenue H West and Blue Heron Blvd.
Riveria Beach

Community Center
360 E. Main St.
Pahokee, FL

Boynton Beach Mall
801 North Congress Ave.
Boynton Beach

Open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Gaines Park
1501 N. Austrailian Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL

Broward County

Old K-Mart Bldg.
Corner of US 441 and Sunrise Blvd.
Lauderhill

Old K-Mart Building (behind KFC)
Corner of Hillsborough Ave. and Power Line Rd.
Deerfield Beach, FL

David Park
108 N. 33rd Ct.
Hollywood

Holiday Park
Sunrise Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale

Mitchell Moore Center
901 NW 10th St.
Pompano Beach, FL

Pembroke Pines Recreational Center
7400 Sunrise Blvd. at the corner of 74th Ave. and Pines Blvd.
Pembroke Pines

Aquatic Fitness Center Pine Island Park
3800 S.W. 92nd Ave. – Please use the Orange Drive entrance
Davie

Miami Dade County

Team Metro Office (in shopping center behind Pizza Hut)
Public Outreach Organization
7630 NW 186th Street
Miami
Directions: State Road 826 to NW 67th Avenue; north on 67th; west on 186th Street.

South Dade Government Center
10710 SW 211th Street
Directions: I-95 South, exit Caribbean Blvd, left at first light.

Team Metro Office
Tamiami across from FIU
1409 SW 107th Ave.
Miami

Team Metro Northeast
Skylake Mall
1658 Miami Gardens Dr.
Miami

Gov’t on the Go Mobile
Miami Riverside Center
444 SW 2nd Ave.
Miami

Thursday, Nov. 3 – ONLY

Herbert Saffir Permitting Center
11805 SW 26th St.
Miami

Homestead at YMCA
1034 NE 8th St.; Harris Field at US 1 at Kendall Drive.
Miami

Caleb Building
5400 NW 22nd Ave. Suite 110
Miami, FL

Edison/Little River Neighborhood Center
150 NW 79 St.
Miami, FL 33150

Hendry County

Wal-Mart Supercenter
Clewiston
Directions: State Road 80 West to 27 North, across from Burger King

U-SAV Grocery
102 S. Bridge St.
LaBelle