July 27, 2018

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter. This edition of my newsletter contains a few updates from around the state that I am sure will be helpful to you and your family.

I hope that you and your family are enjoying the final few weeks of summer. With school right around the corner, I want to be sure to remind you that the sales tax-free weekend is coming up. August 10-12 will allow you to purchase approved items without sales tax. You can find more information from the comptroller in my Updates from Austin section of the newsletter.

Please note that the deadline to submit claims for flooding damage from Hurricane Harvey is August 25, 2018, the one year anniversary of when the historic hurricane made landfall. If you have not already done so, please be sure to get your claims in as soon as possible. This is an important step in recovery, and I do not want you to miss an opportunity.

The Harris County Flood Control District Election is also being held on the anniversary of Harvey's landfall: August 25. I encourage you to look at the links in the following newsletter to be sure that you are informed when the election comes around.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely, 

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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, Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey, the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at www.twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at https://www.dps.texas.gov/dem/.

Please be sure you make your voice heard and comment on any and all of the projects proposed by the Harris County Flood Control District. Full details on how to submit comments via the web, mail and phone may be found here. Each of the specific programs has a comment procedure, but HCFCD is also accepting comments on county wide projects. To learn more about the county-wide programs, follow this link.

You can offer comment on the county wide projects by following this link.

An interactive map of projects under discussion is available and will be updated as projects finalize. (The interactive map allows you to click on the button to the left side to turn on legislative district boundaries.) By clicking on icons for the project locations, you can read more about expected projects, their costs and participants/funding. The link to the site is: http://www.harriscountyfemt.org/cb

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath has provided verbal approval of a waiver request for Summer Creek High School to operate on a pilot schedule for the 2018-2019 school year. Commissioner Morath spoke with Humble ISD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Fagen on July 26 and said that TEA will follow-up with formal written approval.

“Necessity is the mother of invention, and Hurricane Harvey pushed us out of normal comfort zones,” Dr. Fagen said. “Summer Creek High School implemented a non-traditional schedule last year because of Harvey. This year, they are implementing it by choice. I want to thank Commissioner Morath for being open to flexibility. I also want to thank State Representative Dan Huberty for his support of educators working in ways that they believe best serve their students. This pilot schedule was strongly supported by the Summer Creek community.”

Read more from The Tribune.

On Monday, my Capitol Intern, Jillian Swets, attended the 4-133d Field Artillery (HIMARS) Live Fire Demonstration at the Killeen Armory and Fort Hood. While she did not get to view a true live fire demonstration due to the drought conditions in the area, she was able to see some of the machinery that the Texas National Guard uses when they are needed most.

Our office is always ready to assist you. Call or email us and we will do our best to help. Many State Agencies also have hotlines or citizen assistance offices to assist you. That contact information is available at this link, in alphabetical order: 

http://www.lrl.texas.gov/genInfo/stateAgencies.cfm

All of the relevant information our office has gathered during the week will be posted to our Facebook page. By "liking" us, you will stay up-to-date about important matters across the state that affect you and your family. Click below to find our page.

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