Since Sept. 13, when Hurricane Ike made landfall in the early morning in Galveston, Texans previously unsure of exactly why flood insurance is mandatory in some areas were indeed happy to have it.
For many of us, Ike is a distant memory, but others are still feeling the aftermath. KPRC Channel 2 has discovered more than 3,000 Texans who are still battling with their insurance companies to receive compensation for their losses. According to MSNBC, insurance companies have settled 60 to 80 percent of claims as of Dec. 10., but thousands more remain unresolved. Many have flood insurance, but not everyone has wind insurance.
President Obama should move boldly to create thousands of jobs in the Texas Gulf Coast by including the Houston and Galveston region in the current stimulus package.
Help is needed not only by municipalities and businesses, but also by homeowners who need help fixing homes that were damaged by wind and, in many cases, the storm surge. Despite warnings from the National Weather Service, many Galveston homeowners who believed they were protected by the 17-foot-seawall did not realize their insurance policies did not cover damage from the storm surge.
The decision by the Texas Wind Insurance Association not to pay for storm surge losses has created an unprecedented amount of hardship for thousands of homeowners. President Obama needs to address this situation with the stimulus package and deliver on the change he has America believing in.
Homeowners who suffered damage from Hurricane Ike have received only two forms of relief from the government. Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has approved a sales tax exemption on labor charges to repair damage caused as a result of the hurricane and Harris County has agreed to allow homeowners to pay their property tax bill, which is due Feb. 2, in four equal installments without incurring penalties or interest.’ Combs also plans to include measures to alleviate the deficit in state revenue created by businesses being closed in the aftermath of the storm.’
Homeowners without funds are facing the prospect of entering the upcoming rainy season with only a blue Federal Emergency Management Agency tarp between their home, their children and the rain.’
Gov. Perry needs to coordinate with President Obama to direct stimulus package funds to homeowners who need help with roof and foundation work, removal of debris and replacement of electrical wiring and appliances. Homeowners would benefit from such help, as would the unemployed who need jobs. Businesses which provide the materials and products for repair would benefit, and everyone benefits when houses are restored to homes for families.’
For many, Ike was just a minor inconvenience that forced a back-to-basics mentality for a few weeks. As Ike left the city without power, Houstonians were forced to read by candlelight, brave the humid Houston weather without air conditioning and drink room-temperature bottled water. It was a horrible endeavor, but most have weathered the storm and are now continuing on with life.
Those of us lucky enough to have fully recovered from Hurricane Ike should now be much more thankful for the things often taken for granted – like a roof over our heads.
Matthew Keever is a communication junior and may be reached at [email protected]
