The financially troubled US National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is due to expire at the end of this month, but insurers say it should be extended for at least six months to handle the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Such an extension will allow the program’s manager, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), time to address and settle flood claims, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) says.

“PCI calls on Congress to pass at least a six-month extension of the [NFIP]… Any extension should provide for the borrowing authority necessary to pay claim,” President and CEO David Sampson said.

“While PCI and our members support meaningful reforms to the program, passing a minimum six-month extension… will allow time for the majority of the claims from Hurricane Harvey to be settled and any ongoing concerns identified and addressed before Congress and FEMA make significant reforms to the program.”

The debt-laden federal flood insurance program was extended 17 times between 2008 and 2012, and lapsed four times in that period.

It borrowed about $US25 billion ($31.5 billion) from the US Treasury to pay for claims from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.