(Washington D.C., Thursday, September 3, 2020) – In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey dropped more than five feet of rain along the coast of Texas. The storm caused widespread flooding that damaged more than 200,000 homes in Houston, three-quarters of which were outside high-risk flood areas. On the third anniversary of this damaging storm, FEMA and its National Flood Insurance Program are urging Houston residents to renew or secure flood insurance to prepare for the next storm. For flood survivors who received temporary flood insurance policies as part of federal disaster aid after Harvey, those policies are set to expire in October.

This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-average season with seven to 11 hurricanes, including three to six designated as Category 3 or higher. A storm like Harvey could happen again this hurricane season, so it’s important for Houston residents to protect their homes and belongings with flood insurance.

Paloma Alaniz, explains the importance of securing flood insurance during this year’s hurricane season.

SOUNDBITE #1:

AS WE REMEMBER THE DEVASTATION OF HURRICANE HARVEY, RESIDENTS NEED TO PREPARE NOW, AHEAD OF THE NEXT STORM. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR HOME AND BELONGINGS IS TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE. IT ONLY TAKES ONE STORM TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. IN FACT, AN INCH OF WATER IN YOUR HOME IS ENOUGH TO COST MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS.

SOUNDBITE #2:

AS WE SAW DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, A FLOOD CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME. IN TWENTY-SEVENTEEN, AFTER THE STORM, MANY RESIDENTS WERE ISSUED TEMPORARY FLOOD INSURANCE POLICIES AS PART OF FEDERAL DISASTER AID, BUT THESE POLICIES ARE SET TO EXPIRE IN OCTOBER. WE ASK THAT ALL RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR THE NEXT STORM BY SECURING FLOOD INSURANCE. FLOODING IS THE MOST COMMON AND COSTLY NATURAL DISASTER IN THE UNITED STATES. MOST HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS INSURANCE POLICIES DO NOT COVER FLOOD DAMAGE. AND FLOOD INSURANCE POLICIES DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY RENEW.

For more information on flood insurance policies, visit FloodSmart.gov or call 877-336-2627.