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Here is what is happening in Louisiana......

Most people are taking advantage of the blue-tarp program. It does take a few weeks, maybe a month, but they do come eventually and secure a tarp to all damaged areas of your roof. We have had .06 inches of rain in SE Louisiana since hurricane Katrina so many people didn't mind the wait.

The roofing industry is "through the roof" as you can imagine here in Louisiana. From what I'm hearing,....there's a bid from contractors to do a new roof and then there's another bid from contractors to do a new roof NOW - there's a premium to get your new roof today and it's kind of done with a nod and a wink. This "now" price is always way above the insurance adjuster's price.

I don't know the extent of roof damage in your area, I assume it is severe. If it is severe, residents of Florida will run into the same type of price-gouging from roofers. I suggest, and this is only my opinion, folks in Florida with extreme roof damage apply for the blue tarp program and have it fixed temporarily and then wait for an Uncle or Brother or Nephew or kind neighbor to come along to put their roof on for a reasonable price. Roofing is very hard work, but it's not rocket science.

Again, just my opinion.......

Thanks for that info .. yes, roofing is not rocket science but it is a highly regulated industry in Florida. Last year, Florida restricted the sale of roofing materials to licensed contractors only. Some grumbling but the regulation stuck. A building permit was required (but free; the fee was waived) and an inspection was required. The government, insurers, and industry did everything possible to lock out competition and make sure servicable roofs were the outcome.

We lucked out with the rain as well. It took more than a month to get the blue roof but it pretty much stayed dry the whole time. Coincidence or weather pattern shift after a big one passes through?

You would be surprised how long the tarps keep the roofs from leaking. Most of Orlando was covered in tarps last year after the hurricanes. I waited until May before I finally got my new roof.

My parents in Destin rushed to tarp their roof as soon as Ivan ended last summer. Their roof is steeply pitched and my father rigged this elaborate pulley device to get their tarp in place (very ingenious fellow my dad). Had a heck of a time and put himself in much jeapordy. Bless his heart, he worked so hard on it all day long. The next morning the Fema people came into their neighborhood and did all the neighbors' roofs in a few hours. Be careful though. The fellow across the street from my parents had a tarp put on their roof and it turned out that they really didn't have enough damage to warrant a new roof. His insurance company wouldn't pay, but he had to buy a new roof anyway since all the nails from putting the tarp on caused so much damage.