Blue roofs: Souvenirs of Gustav

It’s like the time your grandmother brings you a tacky but warm sweater back from her trip to Vancouver. Even though it’s obnoxious, it works.

In essence, Hurricane Gustav gave a little something to many Baton Rougeans. Even though their distinct color and look is not so desirable, we owed our dry attics to those blue tarps.

The tarps that still blanket Baton Rouge roofs helped some 25,000 homes and businesses take cover following Hurricane Gustav’s landfall on Sept. 1, 2008.

Through the Blue Roof project facilitated by FEMA and manned by the city-parish Department of Public Works, residents got the free tarps if their roofs incurred storm damage.

How long will they stay around? That’s anyone’s guess.

Some neighborhoods have rules or restrictions on temporary fixes such as blue roofs, but those vary. According to DPW director Peter Newkirk, “there are no city-parish ordinances regulating roofing materials or standards.”

FEMA’s Web site, fema.gov, says, “The tarps are temporary fixes designed to provide protetion from the elements until the homeowner can make permanent repairs with a qualified professional.” The intended life of a blue tarp is about 30 days. But, considering the magnitude of roof damages parish-wide and the volume of filed insurance claims, Baton Rouge may need to adjust to seeing the unattractive yet functional tarps.