ORLANDO, Fla. – A free Florida program that offers protection for storm-damaged roofs is now available to residents in Central Florida counties whose homes have been damaged after Hurricane Milton.
Operation Blue Roof is available for residents in Brevard, Citrus, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia counties to apply for assistance.
The program offers “fiber-reinforced, industrial-strength sheeting to protect storm-damaged roofs until homeowners can make permanent repairs.”
Operation Blue Roof is managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for FEMA.
“Operation Blue Roof protects property, reduces temporary housing costs, and allows residents to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm,” the website reads.
Residents can apply through Tuesday, Nov. 5, by clicking here.
As what happened two years ago during Hurricane Ian, parts of Central Florida on Tuesday were flooding almost a week after Milton made landfall due to the rising St. Johns River.
Milton reached Category 5 with winds of 180 mph while still in the Gulf, but the storm encountered wind shear as it neared land that dropped it to a Category 3. At landfall, sustained winds were measured at 120 mph.
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