Cable news cameras have moved on after covering the heroic rescue efforts in earthquake-damaged Mexico City and the desperate conditions in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands ravaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

But beyond the immediate and longer-term assistance for Americans in the Caribbean attention must also return to Houston and much of Florida, where wind and storm surge damage from hurricanes Harvey and Irma will cost tens of billions of dollars.

The battered Caribbean will face months, if not years, of recovery. The devastation from wind and water has destroyed much of the infrastructure.

The onslaught of powerful hurricanes shifted attention away from Houston and Florida before floodwaters receded.

In Texas, the record-setting rainfall and storm surge caused billions of dollars of damage. Experts noted that decades of unrestrained development in the Houston area made the damage worse than it might have otherwise been. Natural marsh areas that would have helped slow the storm surge and let the land absorb the rainfall more quickly have largely been covered by buildings and roads.

In addition to the costs of recovery in the Caribbean, Texas and Florida, there must be congressional action to address the viability of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which has been operating in the red since Hurricane Katrina.

In fact, NFIP was in trouble before Katrina because it was not charging enough in premiums to cover payouts after major storms and floods.

An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office found that, in general, flood insurance policy holders from inland counties are subsidizing policy holders in coastal communities, where flooding occurs more often.

NFIP was already $25 billion in debt before Harvey and Irma hit, so it’s clear that the taxpayers are also subsidizing homeowners living in flood-prone areas.

The flood insurance’s financial troubles are, at least in part, political troubles. When flood insurance premiums have been increased to better reflect risk, policyholders complained to Congress. And since politicians listen to constituents, at least when it threatens re-election, the rate increases were rolled back.

The costs of recovery tied to Harvey and Irma should force Congress to act. To avoid adding insult to injury, rate increases should be slowly phased in over time. But premiums must be increased to more accurately reflect actual risks of flooding and storm damage. Homeowners along the coast won’t like it, but for the insurance program to function without massive taxpayer subsidies, rates have to go up.

One suggestion to lessen the financial pain for many is to structure the premiums in a way that retains discounts for lower income homeowners while raising rates on wealthier homeowners. This cross-subsidization approach is fair and the most reasonable way to reform the program. New flood plain maps will show more homeowners at risk of flooding and the additional premium income should also help stabilize the program’s finances.

The National Flood Insurance Program was up for renewal by Congress in September, but that was pushed back to December because of Harvey and Irma. The program is already close to its $30 billion debt limit with $25 billion borrowed before Harvey and Irma hit the U.S. The program must be reformed and Congress has to have the courage to raise premiums to reflect risk and to base mandated coverage on updated flood maps that will show more people at risk.