Blue Roof Program Operating in Texas

The U.S. Corps of Engineers is executing the operation in response to Hurricane Rita under a best-value contract in effect until December 12.

Army Corps Blue Roof Program

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is continuing to provide assistance to homeowners affected by Hurricane Rita who are in need of temporary roofing. The Corps manages the Operation Blue Roof program as part of its mission, as assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to provide temporary roof covering.

The Corps of Engineers has established numerous Right-of-Entry Collection Centers. Right-of-Entry forms give the Corps and its contractor permission to enter the property to put on the temporary roof covering. Homeowners will receive assistance at the centers in completing the Right-of-Entry form which must be completed before temporary roof covering can be installed. If residents qualify, Corps contractors will install the temporary covering at no cost. For locations of collection centers, call 888-ROOF-BLU.

The Corps of Engineers has established numerous Right-of-Entry Collection Centers. Right-of-Entry forms give the Corps and its contractor permission to enter the property to put on the temporary roof covering. Homeowners will receive assistance at the centers in completing the Right-of-Entry form which must be completed before temporary roof covering can be installed. If residents qualify, Corps contractors will install the temporary covering at no cost. For locations of collection centers, call 888-ROOF-BLU.

LJC will comply with the Stafford Act, which is included in the contract and gives preference to subcontractor organizations, firms or individuals residing or conducting business in the disaster area to the maximum extent feasible and practicable. LJC Contracting is actively compiling information from experienced businesses including Small, Disadvantaged Business; Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business; Veteran-Owned Small Business; Women-Owned Small Business; and Historically Underutilized Business Zones.

In addition to these subcontracting opportunities, the Corps is seeking small businesses to compete for new contracts to provide additional roofing capability.

The Corps is also requesting that all contractors interested in performing work related to Hurricane Rita register and provide information about their company or firm at: swf.usace.army.mil/pubdata/hurricane/RitaRegister.asp.

Additional information may be obtained by logging on to swf.usace.army.mil

THC To Assess Hurricane Damage

Teams of experts with the Texas Historical Commission are traveling to hurricane-ravaged areas of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi to assess damage to historic structures in the wake of hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

Teams were scheduled to travel to the East Texas counties of Polk, Jasper, Tyler and Newton as well as the Nacogdoches and Lufkin areas in late September. An architectural team was scheduled to travel to Galveston to assess damage to historic buildings destroyed by fire during Hurricane Rita.

In early October, a group of THC architects was scheduled to travel to Mississippi at the request of Governor Haley Barbour to assist in historic site assessments. As areas become accessible, THC experts will visit stricken areas in Louisiana, particularly New Orleans.
"It is imperative we ensure that people don't simply start tearing down structures in their efforts to clean up and return to normal," said THC executive director Larry Oaks. "Historic structures that can be saved must be identified and professional determinations made as to how best to restore them."

The use of federal funds to assist communities after a disaster is subject to Section 106 review when the clean-up and repair work impacts historic properties. In such situations, the Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency consult with the THC to ensure historic resources are protected.

Speed Fab-Crete's manufacturing plant regularly produces structural and architectural precast concrete walls, which form a building's exterior. While such work occurs at the plant, site development for the building and creation of its foundation occur simultaneously, thus accelerating the building's completion.

LP Mills in Jasper and Silsbee Weather Storm

Louisiana-Pacific Corp., headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., has announced that operations resumed at its East Texas mills in Jasper and Silsbee following curtailments due to damage to the area and power outages caused by Hurricane Rita

The Jasper mill produces oriented strand board and the Silsbee facility alternates production between OSB structural panels and LP SmartSide composite siding, depending on demand. Each mill employs about 160 people.

Both mills were shut and secured in preparation for Hurricane Rita and reopened in early October.

LP also briefly curtailed production at its Carthage OSB facility as a precautionary measure against the hurricane. Total lost production of OSB from curtailments of the three sites is estimated at 45 to 50 million sq. ft.