Coastal Texas Windstorm Insurance: When You Need TWIA

By James Brazil

James Brazil lives in Mérida, Mexico. He founded Swift Agent Sites and studied Classics at the University of Mississippi.

Published 5 November 2026 · Updated 5 November 2026

Insurance: P&C

Along the Texas coast, a standard homeowners policy often excludes wind and hail. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is the residual windstorm market for eligible coastal properties after a private denial, with separate rules from flood coverage. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and TWIA spell out who qualifies and what the policy pays for.

If you live in Galveston, Corpus Christi, Port Arthur, Brownsville, or the east Harris County cities inside the catastrophe area, wind coverage is easy to mix up with flood and with a regular HO policy. Treat them as three different questions.

What is windstorm insurance in Texas?

TDI defines windstorm insurance as coverage that pays to repair or rebuild your house if it's damaged by hail or wind from a tornado, thunderstorm, or hurricane. Some people call it hurricane insurance. The name is broader than one storm type.

How you get that coverage depends on where you live:

• Anywhere in Texas except along the coast, you probably already have wind and hail inside your homeowners policy. It pays much like fire or theft, though the windstorm deductible may be different.
• Along the coast, your homeowners policy might not cover wind and hail. You'll need a separate windstorm policy. Many people get that through TWIA. Ask your agent what private options still exist for your address.

Windstorm insurance isn't required by Texas law. If you live near the coast and have a mortgage, your lender will likely require it.

Where is the TWIA coverage area?

TWIA covers property in the area designated by the Commissioner of Insurance. That currently includes all 14 first-tier coastal counties:

• Aransas
• Brazoria
• Calhoun
• Cameron
• Chambers
• Galveston
• Jefferson
• Kenedy
• Kleberg
• Matagorda
• Nueces
• Refugio
• San Patricio
• Willacy

Parts of Harris County east of Highway 146 are included when the property is inside the city limits of La Porte, Morgan's Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, or Shore Acres.

TWIA is not a state agency. It is a residual market insurer created by the Texas Legislature in 1971 so coastal owners still have a place to buy wind and hail when the voluntary market won't write them. It does not receive tax revenue for operations.

Who can buy a TWIA policy?

You buy through a licensed insurance agent. TWIA does not sell direct to the public and does not have its own agents.

To be eligible, TDI and TWIA say you generally must:

• Own or insure property in the designated catastrophe area.
• Have been denied wind and hail coverage by at least one authorized insurer writing or renewing that coverage in the area.
• Have a Certificate of Compliance (WPI-8 / WPI-8-E from TDI, or a WPI-8-C issued by TWIA in the older window) showing the building meets applicable windstorm building codes, with limited exceptions.
• Keep the property in insurable condition: good repair, no unrepaired damage, no hazardous conditions.
• Meet other Association underwriting rules.

Extra flood rule for some V-zone properties: if the property is in flood zones V, VE, or V1-30, was constructed, altered, remodeled, or enlarged on or after September 1, 2009, and can get NFIP flood insurance, you must show proof of flood coverage. That is one reason coastal households often carry homeowners, flood, and TWIA together.

Don't wait until a hurricane is in the Gulf. TDI and TWIA both warn that you can't get a new TWIA policy once a hurricane is in the Gulf of Mexico.

What does a TWIA policy cover, and what doesn't it?

A TWIA policy covers wind and hail damage only. It is not flood insurance. Storm surge and rising water are flood perils. See our guide on why Texas homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood if that gap is still open.

TWIA residential policies can cover dwellings and personal property. Commercial and certain miscellaneous items (signs, fences, pools, and similar) have their own forms. Increased Cost of Construction (ICC) coverage for code upgrades is not automatic; it is an endorsement you discuss with your agent.

For claims, TWIA says you can report through Claims Center or the Policyholder Portal, by calling 800-788-8247 (option 1), or through your agent. The deadline to report is one year from the date of damage, with a possible extra 180 days if the TDI Commissioner grants an extension for good cause. Take photos, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage, keep receipts, and wait for the assigned adjuster before permanent repairs when you can.

How is TWIA different from the Texas FAIR Plan?

They are separate. TWIA is coastal wind and hail. The Texas FAIR Plan is a statewide last-resort homeowners/dwelling market after two authorized declinations. FAIR Plan is not authorized to provide windstorm and hail for properties eligible for TWIA. In the TWIA area, many people who qualify for FAIR Plan still need a separate TWIA policy for wind and hail.

FAQ

Is TWIA the same as flood insurance? No. TWIA covers wind and hail only. Flood coverage comes from the NFIP or another flood product.

Do I need a private denial before TWIA will write me? Yes. Eligibility requires denial by at least one authorized insurer actively writing or renewing wind and hail in the designated area.

Can I buy TWIA when a hurricane is already in the Gulf? No. TDI says you can't get a TWIA policy if there's a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Buy earlier.

How long do I have to file a TWIA claim? One year from the date of damage, unless TDI grants an additional 180-day extension for good cause.

Who do I call with a TWIA complaint? Start with TWIA. TDI's Coastal Outreach and Assistance Services Team (COAST) can help with TWIA questions and complaints, and you can also file through TDI's consumer complaint process. TDI's main consumer line is 800-252-3439.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can check whether your coastal homeowners policy already includes wind and hail, whether you need TWIA, and how flood coverage fits the same address. Bring your declarations page, any prior denial letter, and your Certificate of Compliance if you have one. Browse more Texas insurance articles for hail claims and FAIR Plan context.

Sources: TDI: What is windstorm insurance?, TWIA: Coverage & eligibility, TWIA: FAQs, TDI: Insurers of last resort.