U.S. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) joined other Louisiana congressional lawmakers in calling for a faster rollout of Operation Blue Roof following widespread damages across the state from Hurricane Ida.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the program for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide temporary and free blue plastic roofs to residences to prevent additional damage after severe weather. The fiber-reinforced sheeting covers their damaged roofs until permanent repairs are made.
“While we are appreciative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ management of the Operation Blue Roof program, we are writing today with concerns about its current operational state,” the lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 22 letter sent to Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, the Corps Chief of Engineers.
“Our constituents have cited problems with delivery and access, including in rural areas of Southeast Louisiana,” they wrote. “We encourage the Corps to use every available resource to ensure this program is moving as quickly as possible in all impacted parishes.”
Rep. Scalise, Rep. Graves, and their colleagues pointed out that many homeowners are relying on the Blue Roof program to protect their homes while they wait for permanent repairs.
“Unfortunately, we are hearing that many constituents have had difficulty utilizing this program in a timely manner,” wrote the members. “Amid the peak of hurricane season, it is imperative that homeowners can access this program as quickly and easily as possible.”
As of Sept. 22, more than 62,000 individuals have registered for the Blue Roof program and 3,743 installations have been completed, according to their letter, with the Corps ramping up capacity to perform nearly 600 installations a day.
“While we appreciate the accelerated speed under this ramp up, at that rate it would take approximately 98 days to complete installation for every applicant under the Blue Roof program,” they wrote. “This timeframe is unacceptable and will lead to additional damage to homes while people’s roofs remain exposed to the elements.”
The members requested that the Corps expand the capacity for these projects to include as many contractors as needed to complete installations more quickly. They also asked to be updated on all measures being taken to speed up installations and simplify enrollment in the program.
“Finally, we request regular reports, broken down by parish, on the number of individuals served each day,” wrote the lawmakers.