Hurricane Matthew is the latest warning that unless Congress reforms the broken federal flood insurance program, it could be bankrupt when the 87,000 Georgia policyholders turn to it after the next storm strikes.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which administers flood coverage to more than five million policyholders in 22,000 communities across the country, is $23 billion in debt and that is only going to grow. With the NFIP up for reauthorization next year, lawmakers should prioritize fixing the program before it becomes completely unsustainable.

Congress can start by taking steps to inject more private insurers into the flood insurance marketplace, which would move risks and costs from taxpayers to private capital markets.

The House of Representatives took an important step toward improving the NFIP’s long-term success last spring by passing The Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act with a unanimous 419-0 vote. This bill would level the playing field for private flood insurers by clarifying that private policies can be used to meet flood insurance purchase requirements, the Senate should follow suit by passing this important bill as soon as they return post-election.

More competition would allow additional flood insurance options, including potentially lower rates, better coverage and higher coverage limits — saving Georgia residents money and allowing them to choose the coverage that works best for them. As private flood insurance becomes more common, more people will likely obtain coverage.

In addition to bringing in more private insurers to the flood insurance marketplace, Congress should implement a national mitigation strategy to cement the NFIP’s long-term success.

A comprehensive mitigation strategy would require a multipronged effort that includes strengthening natural features to help buffer from storms, preservation of green spaces and buyouts repeatedly flooded structures and property-level interventions such as raising an at-risk home. This strategy would also provide financial assistance to lower-income policyholders for more effective preparation prior to future storms.

Taking proactive measures, such as strengthening infrastructure and updating building codes, would go a long way towards ensuring that communities are better prepared for the next major storm.

President Obama made headway toward improving America’s resiliency last year by issuing an executive order called the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, which requires federally owned or funded buildings and infrastructure be built to withstand a future of more severe and sometimes fatal storms.

This effort is critical to minimizing the costs — both 
monetary and human — of 
future floods and is a great first step, so should be supported by Congress.

Additionally, Congress should work to ensure that the most accurate risk assessment tools, as well as modern technology, are being used to update flood maps. In turn, property owners won’t have the burden of determining risk, and would enable the NFIP and private insurers to offer rates that accurately reflect the risk that a property faces.

The fact is that all 50 states have experienced floods in the past five years, and frequent storms are a new reality that our nation must adapt to. Unless lawmakers act quickly, relief for Georgia and others recovering from Hurricane Matthew may soon dry up.