Harris County Plans Billboard Campaign To Push Flood Insurance After Harvey
HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) -- Houston-area officials are planning a campaign to put up two dozen billboards encouraging residents to buy flood insurance after Hurricane Harvey.
The Harris County Flood Control District estimates more than 80 percent of the county's 1.4 million buildings lacked flood insurance when the storm devastated the region.
The Houston Chronicle reports that the Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to seek $75,000 in federal grant funds for the billboards.
The district gave commissioners examples of proposed billboard messages disproving flood protection myths.
One example says hurricane season lasts from June to November, but that "flood season" lasts year-round. Another encourages residents outside flood plains to buy flood insurance.
The move is part of a larger effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to double flood insurance policies over the next five years.
Many evacuees came to North Texas after Hurricane Harvey. Some stayed for months.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)