SAIPAN – Homeowners whose homes were damaged by Super Typhoon Sinlaku may be eligible for free temporary metal roofing through the federal Strong Roof Program, according to a public service announcement released Monday.
The program provides eligible homeowners with a temporary metal roof at no cost while they work toward permanent repairs.
To register, homeowners should first contact their mayor’s office, then complete a right of entry form, after which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will inspect the home to determine eligibility, according to the announcement.
To qualify, homes must have disaster-related damage, be structurally sound and have had a non-concrete roof prior to the storm.
Accepting a temporary roof will not affect a homeowner’s eligibility for any other disaster assistance programs, and there is no cost to approved recipients.
“If anyone asks you to pay, report it to your mayor’s office immediately,” the announcement said.
The temporary roofs are being installed by U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 working with the Army Corps of Engineers, according to NMI News Service reporting from a job site in Garapan on Monday. Crews typically consist of five to six personnel and projects take one to three days depending on the severity of the damage.
“Together, we are stronger than Sinlaku,” the announcement said.