AUSTIN, Texas - The time for Hurricane Harvey survivors to file a National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP) Proof of Loss claim is drawing to a close. The deadline to file for flood damages is one year from the date of their loss.

Harvey first made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25, 2017, with heavy rainfall and flooding occurring for several days after it hit. For this reason, the date of loss varies for property owners.

NFIP usually requires policyholders to submit a Proof of Loss claim within 60 days from the date of their loss. Policyholders were given an extension up to a year because of the magnitude of Hurricane Harvey's damage.

To date, more than 91,600 claims have been filed for damages from Hurricane Harvey. More than 99 percent of those claims have been closed, for estimated payments totaling more than $8.8 billion.

A Proof of Loss form is a sworn statement made by the policyholder that substantiates their insurance claim. This includes detailed estimates with necessary documents supporting the cost to replace or repair the damaged property.

FEMA urges policyholders to submit their forms as soon as possible. Policyholders should contact their insurance agent or the NFIP Call Center at 800-427-4661 with questions about filing. To download the Proof of Loss form, visit https://go.usa.gov/xUU4X.

For additional information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332<http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4332>, Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey<http://www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey>, the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at www.twitter.com/FEMARegion6<http://www.twitter.com/FEMARegion6> or the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at https://www.dps.texas.gov/dem/.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS - Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish). 

Reach-Rescue-Restore

 August 18th, 2018 - 9:30 am - Claiborne West Park

  Orange County Disaster Rebuild in conjunction with many local agencies will be supplying food, shoes, diapers, school supplies, backpacks for kids, fresh produce, water, paint, hygiene kits, and much much more to those still recovering from hurricane Harvey so please come out!

 The whole park has been reserved, and there will be booths set up throughout the park to help and assist you. We are expecting 3,000 to 5,000 people, First Come, First Served.

Time is ticking for the city of Vidor when it comes to letting a Texas agency know it needs more funds to rebuild after Harvey.

The city spent Thursday scrambling to submit maps and pictures showing flood damaged areas of Vidor by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission's deadline of July 20 at 5 p.m.

Mayor Robert Viator says the SETRPC says Vidor's population was about 30 percent impacted by Harvey.

Viator believes that many more were impacted.

To submit your comments on how you think SETRPC funds should be spent, click here.

"River Oaks edition was 97, 98 percent impacted," he says. "Green Forest Edition was 95, 96 percent impacted."

Just over $2 million has been allocated for buyouts and acquistions in Vidor.

About $3.8 million has been set aside for infrastructure.

Viator says much more is needed.

"According to the numbers at 30 percent, we're at least 10 to 15 percent off, which when you're calculating these numbers, that's a huge amount of money," says Viator. "$3 million for infrastructure damage. When you consider that one bridge span is going to cost you $300,000 to fix, it's not calculating to the infrastructure damage we had."

The city spent Thursday putting together proof of the damage in hopes that the government agencies in charge of distributing the money will increase the amount that goes to Vidor.

"Identified some large spots of land they're not showing effected we can show and prove with pictures under water," says Viator. "Truthfully our only hope is when this gets passed to the next level because this has to go to GLO from our understanding, that our state representatives look at it and possibly right this injustice that's being done to our citizens."

According to the SETRPC, Wednesday, August 5, members of the agency will vote on the proposed methods of distribution of the funds.