MIAMI, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) to expedite the delivery of more than 10,000 tarps to communities across the state so that homeowners can patch roofs damaged by Hurricane Irma. To date, more than 100,000 tarps have been distributed throughout Florida. Following destructive storms like Hurricane Irma, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) activate Operation Blue Roof which provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting at no cost to homeowners in eligible counties until permanent repairs can be made. The action ordered by Governor Scott today aims to mitigate and prevent additional water and rain damage to homes impacted by Hurricane Irma until the federal Operation Blue Roof program is fully operational.
Governor Scott said, “Throughout our state, many families are still displaced from their homes due to damage caused by Hurricane Irma. As we all work to help Florida recover, we must do everything possible to protect families and help them return to their homes. Today, I have directed the Florida Division of Emergency Management to take every action to expedite the delivery of tarps to impacted communities so homeowners can patch their roofs, preventing further damage to their property and allowing them to return home. Across the state, more than 100,000 tarps have already been distributed and today, an additional 6,000 tarps will be arriving in the Keys. Florida is expediting the delivery of these tarps until the federal Blue Roof program is operational.”
