Blue is the colour of post-disaster landscapes, of the plastic sheets that offer protection and improvised shelter. But from Rwanda to New Orleans, the tarp has also come to symbolise the absence of longer-term solutions Why blue? Blue to cover firewood or motorcycles in the yard, to protect sports fields during rainstorms, or to wrap a truckload of furniture, untied edges flapping like shards of sky. Blue to convey your purchases from Ikea, to lay out your gear on wet ground, to wrap delicate plants before a hard freeze. Blue to shelter thousands who have lost their homes. The economies of do-it-yourself and of disaster relief mesh along the flexible, but short-lived, weave of blue tarps. Blue denotes cheap. Tarp producers follow an informal, though chromatically charged, rating spectrum, from light-duty blue to green to silver to super-heavy-duty brown. Here in Florida, with seven dollars, I can buy Home Depot’s “sky blue” 10ft by 12ft tarp, a size halfway to the standard-issue blue plastic sheeting used by the US’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tarps are made from polyethylene, laminated in three layers. Since the 1970s,a woven core sheet has served as a “rip stop”, which in blue tarps is typically eight strands per inch of warp and weft. Their total thickness is only five thousandths of an inch – plastic with the thinness of a paper bag. Blue tarps have come to symbolise transience and need. Tarps are not tents; their ephemerality is in stark contrast to the protracted relief efforts and enduring media images that infuse our global conscience with the blue tints of homeless encampments in Tokyo and Seattle, post-earthquake schools in Pakistan, refugee camps in Rwanda, and the post-disaster settlements that remain in place five years after Haiti’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Tarp is short for tarpaulin, a word that sounds out its origins in tar and pall, and recalls the tarred black canvases used to cover objects on ships, their colour suggestive of a funerary pall. In contrast, today’s bright blue is an all-too-cheerful shroud over post-disaster landscapes. Blue is not an abundant colour in terrestrial landscapes, allowing aerial media reports to measure damage or hardship by blue wounds. Blue tarps successfully convey short-term assistance but point towards failures in longer-term shelter and protection. Which is to say that visibility is inversely related to durability. So goes the logic of post-disaster economics. And blue now indicates life after disaster. The hot blue light of improvised shelters. Psychologists tell us that blue invokes trust, it instils calm, affecting us mentally rather than physically. But in the harsh world of post-disaster relief, is this enough? In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we were left with so many blue after-images: FEMA’s “operation blue roof”, Florida’s “blue tarp cities”, the “blue tarp tours” of competing politicians who condemned higher insurance rates and “blue tarp blues” sung by New Orleans’s journalists, bloggers and folk musicians. Festival-goers wore blue tarp clothing for Mardi Gras parades the following year. And Antoine’s Restaurant hosted a fundraiser requiring fashion designers to integrate blue tarps into their entries. This activation of the blue tarp’s iconography makes use of the camp’s material as a performative “camp”. It links symbolism to need and just might help us rethink how we make camp. This article first appeared in Icon 141: Camps | | Words Charlie Hailey | FAQs
For the purpose of this program, "Blue Tarp" is defined as any type or color of waterproof general-purpose tarp that has been temporarily fastened to a damaged roof to prevent water intrusion.
What is blue tarpaulin? ›
Blue Tarpaulin 24x18ft is a heavy-duty multi-purpose tarpaulin made from double laminated polypropylene coated fabric. It is fully weatherproof, waterproof and rotproof as well as being tear and stretch resistant. It is light and easy to handle and can be tied down securely. More Information. Width.
Why is the tarp always blue? ›
And some colors signal different benefits. For example, blue is the color of everyday tarps - usually the most economical. Silver is the color most associated with heavier-duty tarps with special properties. Fire-retardant and chemical-resistant tarps are almost always silver.
What is the difference between tarp and tarpaulin? ›
Tarp is usually lighter and not coated, while tarpaulin is heavier and often made from canvas or another thick material that's been treated with a waterproof coating.
Does the color of a tarp mean anything? ›
Different tarp colors often indicate their ideal use and durability. For instance, blue tarps are common due to the availability and inexpensiveness of the material, making them a popular choice for general-purpose applications.
Why are people putting blue tarps on their roof? ›
Operation Blue Roof is a program offered by FEMA through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to eligible homeowners and landlords. It provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made.
Why is it called tarpaulin? ›
The word tarpaulin comes from tar and palling—another 17th Century name for sheets used to cover objects on ships. Sailors also made waterproof clothing from tarpaulins including tricorn hats, choosing the style in an act of defiance to mimic what the officers wore.
What is tarpaulin? ›
tarpaulin. noun. tar·pau·lin tär-ˈpȯ-lən ˈtär-pə- : a piece of material (as waterproof canvas) used for protecting exposed objects.
What is the purpose of tarpaulins? ›
Tarpaulins are used in many ways to protect persons and things from wind, rain, and sunlight. They are used during construction or after disasters to protect partially built or damaged structures, to prevent mess during painting and similar activities, and to contain and collect debris.
Why was tarp controversial? ›
Controversies. The primary purpose of TARP, according to the Federal Reserve, was to stabilize the financial sector by purchasing illiquid assets from banks and other financial institutions. However, the effects of the TARP have been widely debated in large part because the purpose of the fund is not widely understood.
The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was an initiative created and run by the U.S. Treasury to stabilize the country's financial system, restore economic growth, and mitigate foreclosures in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
What color tarp is the strongest? ›
They are one of the best construction tarps you can buy for handling landscaping work or a temporary shelter. Dark blue, grey, or black tarp colors are the strongest and the heaviest. This is because they often are treated with UV coating.
What do Americans call a tarpaulin? ›
(US usually tarp) Add to word list Add to word list. (a large piece of) heavy waterproof cloth used as a covering. Coverings and layers.
What do British people call a tarp? ›
British Pounds
Such kit was known as 'Pall,' hence – tar-palling, which down the centuries has changed to the spelling we know today of 'tarpaulin. '
When were blue tarps invented? ›
The “Blue Tarp” Tarpaulin Age began when some bright spark realized that fabric + oil/wax = temporary waterproofing. The word tarpaulin was first used by 17th century sailors to refer to a tar-coated palling (a canvas cloth) that covered cargo at sea.
What does a blue tarp mean in an accident car? ›
In the time it takes for the various agencies like State Police to do a fatal collision report and the aforementioned coroner the body is covered from public view. The easiest way is to drape the sheet over the outside of the vehicle. We had blue work tarps for the purpose.
What are the blue tarps used after a hurricane? ›
Hurricane Blue Tarps, Roof Sheeting, Storm Protection
Reinforced poly sheeting are roll form tarpaulin sheeting used for roofing protection, shelter, and all-purpose relief covers. Blue Relief Sheeting rolls are mass-produced for quick and efficient response and deliver after a disaster occurs.
