The days immediately following a disaster are often some of the most profitable times for con-artists who prey off innocent people who have been affected by the disaster.

You should be very cautious about dealing with contractors from out of state that show up shortly after a hurricane. While some of these individuals maybe legitimate contractors who are trying to earn and honest dollar, others are most certainly looking to make a quick buck and skip town.

You should always request to see a license and proof of insurance from anyone claiming to be a contractor. Never give a contractor money for supplies or work that has not been completed, as this is a common ploy used by scam artists to take advantage of unsuspecting customers.

You must be prepared to pay for immediate or temporary hurricane damage repairs out of pocket if you elect to have a contractor preform these tasks. It is important to remeber to keep all reciepts for any and all hurricane damage repairs as they will be needed when filing your hurricane insurance damage claim.

Keep in mind that federal government does offer a program, known as Project Blue Roof, in which they will put tarp roofs on homes damaged by a hurricane, free of charge. You may be required to go to an announced site to register for the program and even then it may take several days or even weeks before the Blue Roof is actually on your home. This program may be restricted to certain areas or zip codes and may not be available to everyone who may have suffered roof damage resulting from a hurricane.