Hurricane insurance in Texas for 2026

Do you need hurricane insurance in Texas?

Hurricane insurance is not required by Texas law, but most lenders require homeowners insurance, and lenders with federally backed mortgages in designated high-risk flood areas must also require flood insurance. Coastal homeowners in Tier 1 counties, those that touch the Gulf of Mexico such as Galveston and Brazoria, are typically required by their mortgage company to carry both windstorm and flood insurance in addition to homeowners insurance.

“In Texas, if you live in a Tier 1 county — that is a county that touches the Gulf of Mexico like Galveston or Brazoria — your mortgage company will require you to carry windstorm and flood insurance policies in addition to your homeowners,” says Hal Rochkind, owner and agent with Rochkind Insurance, based in Galveston.

“Homeowners insurance in Tier 1 counties exclude windstorm and flood from their policies, so you will have three separate policies for your home” if you want full coverage hurricane insurance, he says.

Elsewhere in the state, however, you would likely just need to add flood insurance to a homeowners insurance policy that includes windstorm coverage.

How much does hurricane insurance cost in Texas?

Hurricane insurance in Texas costs an average of $5,201 a year, combining a home insurance policy at an average of $4,085 and a National Flood Insurance Program policy at an average of $1,116. Homeowners who also need a separate windstorm policy through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) pay an additional $2,877 on average for that coverage.

• The average home insurance policy in Texas costs $4,085 based on the following limits:
  • $300,000 dwelling coverage
  • $1,000 deductible
  • $300,000 liability
  • 2% hurricane deductible
• The average cost of flood insurance in Texas is $1,116 for a policy through the National Flood Insurance Program
• The average cost of a TWIA windstorm insurance policy is $2,877

The total cost of a homeowners insurance policy that includes windstorm coverage may be similar to a combination of policies, depending on the location of the home.

“It's all relative,” says Rochkind. “Identical houses in Galveston and Houston will have similar premiums for the Galveston homeowners and windstorm policies versus just the Houston homeowners, which includes windstorm.”

In other words, a house in Galveston could have lower homeowners insurance premiums since windstorm coverage is not included, but when you add the policies together, the total costs are similar. 

That said, “the Galveston policy premiums may be a tad higher because you're paying a premium to live on the coast, where you are more likely to have a damaging wind event,” Rochkind says.

How much is a hurricane deductible?

Hurricane deductibles on a home insurance policy range from 2% to 5% of the dwelling coverage. If you have $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a 2% hurricane deductible, you would have to meet a $6,000 deductible for hurricane or other windstorm damage, separate from your regular deductible for things like fire and theft.

TWIA hurricane deductibles range from 1% to 5% of the dwelling coverage, while flood insurance are usually flat deductibles ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with separate deductibles for dwelling coverage and contents coverage.

How does hurricane insurance work in Texas?

Hurricane insurance in Texas works through two coverage structures. Coastal homeowners in Tier 1 counties carry three separate policies: homeowners insurance, a TWIA windstorm policy, and flood insurance. Homeowners elsewhere in Texas typically carry homeowners insurance with windstorm coverage bundled in, plus a separate flood insurance policy. In both cases, separate deductibles apply for wind damage and flood damage, meaning a single storm can trigger multiple deductible payments.

With either option, you can protect yourself financially against wind damage as well as flooding from hurricanes and other storms. Note that you may have to pay separate deductibles for the same storm, depending on how your policies are constructed.

For example, you may have to pay a 2% deductible for your homeowner's insurance to cover damage to your home’s walls or roof due to a hurricane while also paying a $2,000 deductible for your flood insurance to cover damage to your floors in a hurricane-induced flood, as well as another $2,000 deductible for damage to your personal belongings.

Is hurricane insurance a requirement in Texas?

Neither homeowners, windstorm, nor flood insurance is required by Texas law, but lenders require homeowners insurance, and may also require windstorm and flood insurance in certain parts of the state.

In a FEMA-designated high-risk flood area with a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require you to buy flood insurance. In Tier 1 coastal counties, windstorm insurance is also required.

Texas hurricane insurance companies

The following companies offer homeowners insurance in Texas that includes windstorm coverage or can help coordinate coverage across homeowners, windstorm and flood policies, including the Write-Your-Own (WYO) program that allows insurers to write NFIP policies. Availability and coverage structures vary by county and property location.

*May not be available in Tier 1 counties

For most Texas homeowners outside Tier 1 coastal counties, bundling homeowners and flood insurance with one provider simplifies claims and may reduce total premiums. Homeowners in Tier 1 coastal counties who cannot obtain private windstorm insurance must use TWIA for windstorm coverage and choose homeowners and flood policies separately. When comparing providers, collect quotes for each policy type individually and as a bundle, then compare total annual premiums across both structures.

What TWIA covers, who qualifies and how to get it

TWIA provides windstorm coverage for homeowners in the 14 designated catastrophe areas along the Texas Gulf Coast who cannot obtain windstorm insurance through the private market. To qualify, your property must be located in a TWIA-eligible county, meet current building code standards or pass a TWIA inspection, and have been denied windstorm coverage by at least one private insurer.

Eligibility requirements for a TWIA policy:

• Property must be in a TWIA-designated catastrophe area (includes all Tier 1 coastal counties)
• Structure must meet applicable building codes or pass a TWIA inspection
• Applicant must have been unable to obtain windstorm coverage through the private market
• Coverage is not available if private windstorm insurance is accessible at standard rates

To get a TWIA policy:

1. Confirm your county is in a TWIA-designated catastrophe area.
2. Obtain a denial or declination from a private windstorm insurer.
3. Contact a licensed Texas insurance agent authorized to write TWIA policies.
4. Schedule a TWIA property inspection if required.
5. Review your coverage limits and deductible options (1% or 2% of insured value) before binding.

How to file a hurricane insurance claim in Texas

To file a hurricane insurance claim in Texas, contact your insurer immediately after the storm, document all damage with photographs before making repairs, and file separate claims for each policy if wind and flood damage occurred in the same storm. Under the Texas Insurance Code, insurers must acknowledge your claim within 15 days of receipt and must accept or deny it within 15 business days of receiving all required information.

• Contact your insurance company. Note that if you need to file a flood insurance claim in addition to a homeowners insurance claim, you may need to file two separate claims with two insurance companies.
• Provide details and photographs of the damage. Take as many detailed photos of the damage as you safely can to provide to your insurer.
• Complete any required forms. Your insurance company may ask you to fill out forms, including a proof of loss form.
• Work with your adjuster. An insurance adjuster will be assigned to you and will inspect the damage, review your coverage and make a decision about your claim.

Sources:

• Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. “Hurricane Preparedness.” Accessed June 2026.

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