Governor Abbott Must Demand Trump and Republican Lawmakers Immediately Reauthorize NFIP
Abbott stages Hill Country photo ops & Trump pushes disaster relief cuts as National Flood Insurance Program is set to expire September 30
AUSTIN, TX — Choosing style over substance, Governor Abbott spent yesterday in Hill Country while disaster relief funding hangs in the balance. Sabotaging Our Safety is calling on him to end months of inaction on flood relief and immediately pressure Donald Trump and Congressional allies to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), set to expire in just days. After failing to push back against Trump’s cuts to disaster preparedness funding, Abbott cannot allow the potential loss of flood insurance coverage to create a devastating one-two punch for storm-vulnerable communities across Texas.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: if NFIP lapses on September 30, insurance companies will be unable to sell new policies or renew existing coverage, leaving homeowners defenseless against flood damage in states that face some of the nation’s highest flood risks.
In response, Sabotaging Our Safety Advisory Council Member Derrick Osobase, CWA District 6 Vice President, released the following statement:
“While Governor Abbott posed for cameras yesterday in Hill Country, families devastated by this summer’s deadly floods—which claimed at least 135 lives and caused over $18 billion in damages—are still picking up the pieces. After months of silence as Trump guts disaster preparedness programs, Abbott cannot also allow his friends to strip away the flood insurance that serves as a lifeline for rebuilding families. These communities Abbott claims to represent deserve more than photo opportunities—they need him to immediately pressure his Washington allies to reauthorize NFIP before it expires. Texas cannot afford to lose the federal flood insurance safety net, and our Governor must finally use his political capital when families’ futures depend on it.”
The Critical Role of NFIP
The National Flood Insurance Program provides affordable insurance to property owners in 22,000 communities nationwide. Unlike private insurance, NFIP coverage is available even in high-risk flood zones and serves as an essential alternative to costly taxpayer-funded disaster assistance.
Over 1.5 million homes at high flood risk
NFIP covers over 750,000 homes with $225+ billion in coverage
Average claim payment: $29,000 for essential post-storm repairs
The consequences of inaction are clear: without NFIP reauthorization, vulnerable communities will face the next hurricane season with no federal flood insurance safety net—exactly when they need it most.
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