Windstorm Requirements Before You Build

Most insurance companies don’t include wind and hail coverage insurances for homeowners, while this is a necessity for people residing in coastal counties often afflicted by violent windstorms and hailstorms. But now, people who are living or planning to build structures on the afflicted areas can now obtain wind and hail coverage as part of their insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).  TWIA is Texas’ insurer for wind and hail affected structures.

The coastal counties which are included in the state’s critical areas are as follows:

Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kennedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Willacy, or in the following cities east of State Highway 146 in Harris County: La Porte, Morgan's Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, or Shore Acres.

Also, the following projects need to be inspected in order to obtain windstorm insurance: newly built structures, additions, modifications, repairs and re-roofing.

The windstorm insurance inspection must be conducted by a Texas Department of Insurance inspector or a TDI engineer. The inspector or engineer must be appointed by the Commissioner of Insurance.