Walla Walla, Wash. – Four U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District employees deployed recently to assist the New Orleans District’s support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Operation Blue Roof mission in Baton Rouge, La., according to district emergency management officials.
Deployees volunteered from several duty locations within the District – Peter Ober and Jonathan Conway, serve as quality assurance representatives at the Walla Walla District office in Walla Walla, Wash.; Robert Henry and Jason Honn, a maintenance worker and mechanic respectively. Both serve at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam in Kahlotus, Wash.
While deployed, all four will serve as quality assurance specialists, verifying work performed under government contracts. In addition to having the technical knowledge and skills needed for a specific deployment position, employee-volunteers must meet a variety of FEMA and Corps training requirements and complete a medical screening to be approved to go.
The program, named Operation Blue Roof, provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. USACE uses pre-awarded contracts that can be quickly activated for missions such as debris removal, temporary roofing, and temporary emergency power. Eligible homeowners in 12 counties impacted by Hurricane Michael can apply for temporary repairs under the Blue Roof program. To participate in the Blue Roof call 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258) or visit www.usace.army.mil/blueroof to find a location where Right of Entry (ROE) forms are being collected.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Emergency Operations Centers have been activated in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. For more information about the Corps’ ongoing hurricane-response missions, visit https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/Hurricane-Season/Laura/
Release no. 20-121