Natural hazards and home insurance in Texas

Which hazards matter, and which policy covers each?

TDI sums it up in three policies: homeowners for fire, theft, wind and hail; flood for rising water; and, on the coast, a separate wind and hail policy. TDI notes that Texas gets more tornadoes than any other state, and that the coast and Flash Flood Alley, a band through Central and North Texas, are especially prone to floods.

Hurricanes and coastal wind: TWIA

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) sells wind and hail coverage to coastal owners who cannot find it privately. As of October 2026, eligible properties must be in the area designated by the Commissioner of Insurance: the 14 first-tier coastal counties (Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio and Willacy) and parts of Harris County east of Highway 146.

TWIA’s other conditions:

• the applicant was denied coverage by at least one authorized insurer;
• the building has a windstorm certificate of compliance: a WPI-8 or WPI-8-E from TDI, or a WPI-8-C issued by TWIA between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2020;
• properties in flood zones V, VE or V1-30 constructed, altered, remodeled or enlarged on or after September 1, 2009 must show proof of flood insurance when NFIP coverage is available;
• the property is in good repair.

A TWIA policy covers wind and hail only. TDI adds that you cannot get one while a hurricane is in the Gulf of Mexico, and that you have one year from the storm to file a claim. Texas law does not require windstorm insurance, but TDI says a coastal lender likely will.

Before buying on the coast, look up the home’s certificate on TDI’s windstorm website (WPI-8, WPI-8-E) or TWIA’s lookup tool (WPI-8-C). TWIA says uncertified homes built from 1988 to June 18, 2009 may still qualify, with a 15% surcharge on the premium. A new roof, windows, doors, decks or additions usually need a new inspection (TDI).

Floods: NFIP and the 30-day wait

FloodSmart states that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. TDI’s home insurance guide adds that more than half of the homes flooded by Hurricane Harvey were outside designated flood zones. What FloodSmart says about an NFIP policy, as of October 2026:

• Limits: up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents.
• Waiting period: coverage starts 30 days after purchase, with no wait if you buy it while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage.
• Required: in a Special Flood Hazard Area with a government-backed mortgage; some lenders require it elsewhere.
• Price: NFIP rates depend on location and coverage, and don’t vary by insurance provider.

See our guide to flood insurance.

Hail, tornadoes and percentage deductibles

Inland, TDI warns that the deductible for windstorm damage may be different from the one for other losses, and that a deductible can be a dollar amount or a percentage of the insured value. TDI’s example, for a home insured for $150,000 with $6,500 of hail damage to the roof:

On a home insured for $400,000, a 2% wind and hail deductible is $8,000. TDI also notes that some policies pay only actual cash value for an older roof.

The Texas FAIR Plan: insurer of last resort

If no company will sell you a homeowners policy, the Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA) can. You must have been turned down by two insurance companies and hold no policy, renewal offer or comparable offer (TDI, TFPA). TFPA coverage is more limited: actual cash value on the dwelling unless endorsed for replacement cost, and no coverage for falling trees, sewer backup or frozen pipes. TFPA does not cover wind and hail for TWIA-eligible properties, so a coastal owner may need both policies.

Flood disclosures when you buy or rent

Buying. Property Code § 5.008, amended by S.B. 339 effective September 1, 2019, adds flood questions to the seller’s disclosure notice: location in a 100-year or 500-year floodplain, floodway, flood pool or reservoir; past flooding; current flood insurance; past flood claims, including NFIP; and FEMA or SBA flood aid. If the notice arrives after the contract, the buyer may terminate within seven days of receiving it. Foreclosure sales and never-occupied new homes are among the exemptions. See our page on the Texas seller’s disclosure.

Renting. Property Code § 92.0135, in force since January 1, 2022, requires a landlord to state in writing whether the dwelling is in a 100-year floodplain and whether it flooded in the past five years. If the landlord fails and the tenant suffers a substantial flood loss, the tenant may end the lease within 30 days.

What about Dallas?

Dallas County is not in TWIA’s coastal area, so wind and hail coverage usually comes with the homeowners policy. FEMA lists major disaster declarations covering Dallas County for storms with tornadoes and flooding that began in May 2015 (DR-4223), December 2015 (DR-4255, which also covered winter storms) and April 2024 (DR-4781), plus the February 2021 winter storms (DR-4586). Flood risk depends on the address: check FEMA’s flood map and the seller’s disclosure. See also our Dallas page.