Texas Hurricane Season Insurance Checklist

Short answer: review home, wind, and flood coverage before a storm threatens. TWIA restricts new and increased coverage during a hurricane moratorium. NFIP coverage usually has a 30-day wait, subject to specific exceptions. Confirm limits, deductibles, certificates, and effective dates now, and keep a documented claim plan for afterward.

The National Hurricane Center states the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with activity sometimes occurring before and after those dates, and that the peak is September 10. Prepare before the season and review changes throughout the year. A peak date does not predict when your property will be affected.

What follows is split into three parts: what to verify now, what the binding deadlines actually are, and what the law gives you after the storm. Every claim here is tied to a TDI, TWIA, FEMA, or statutory source, including a few places where the common advice circulating online is wrong.

Part one: verify these now

TDI's own before the storm page, last updated April 10, 2025, sets out what the regulator actually recommends, and it is shorter and more practical than most checklists:

Copy your documents. Copy paper policies or email them to yourself, and put insurance cards in your evacuation bag.

Confirm your limits are high enough. TDI notes limits may be too low after additions, new furniture, or new electronics. This is the single most common gap, and it is invisible until a total loss.

Make a home inventory. TDI says to make a list of the items you own and update it at least once a year, with serial numbers, values, and purchase dates. TDI publishes a home inventory checklist for this.

Photograph or video every room. TDI specifies each room, including closets and drawers, and notes this speeds up claims. Do it on your phone and get the file off your phone.

Know your deductible. Most insurers subtract it from what they owe you, and on a percentage deductible most homeowners do not know the dollar figure. More on that below.

Buy flood coverage separately. TDI is explicit that homeowners does not cover it.

Also consider renters insurance, comprehensive auto coverage, which TDI notes covers hail, wind, fire, and flood, and added coverage for jewelry or art.

To that list, from TDI's other pages, add two items worth checking before a storm rather than after:

Additional living expenses. TDI's additional living expenses page states that most policies pay 10 to 20 percent of what your house is insured for, giving the example of 10 percent of a $200,000 dwelling limit being $20,000, and that policies usually pay up to 12 months or until you have used your 10 to 20 percent. A power outage alone does not trigger additional living expenses. Save all receipts.

Ordinance or law coverage. TDI's home insurance guide lists extra construction or repair costs to meet local building codes as an available endorsement. After a major storm, code upgrades are exactly what turns a repair into a rebuild.

Part two: the deadlines that actually bind

The TWIA moratorium, stated correctly

There is a lot of wrong information about this, so here is the rule from the source.

TDI's position, from its windstorm insurance page last updated June 1, 2026, is short: you cannot get a TWIA policy if there is a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, and do not wait until the last minute to buy wind and hail insurance.

TWIA's own rule is more precise, and the precision matters. Under TWIA's plan of operation, a moratorium begins when the National Weather Service or National Hurricane Center designates a storm as a hurricane, and that hurricane is in the Gulf or within the boundaries of 80 degrees west longitude and 20 degrees north latitude. Note the trigger is a hurricane designation, not merely a named storm.

During a moratorium, TWIA temporarily stops issuing policies and increasing coverage. That means no new applications, no new policies, and no coverage increases on existing policies. Renewals are still permitted so long as they do not increase coverage.

The moratorium does not lift at landfall. It ends when the TWIA General Manager determines the storm no longer threatens property anywhere within the TWIA coverage area, and normal issuance resumes at 12:01 a.m. the next day. TWIA warns it can last a week or more.

Confirm the effective date. A TWIA moratorium and an NFIP waiting period are different constraints. Ask when an eligible application and payment will create coverage under current binding rules. A submitted application is not proof of insurance. Private wind insurers may also restrict binding near a storm.

Confirm receipt before a moratorium

TWIA's moratorium page explains application and payment cutoffs. An agent submits the application, and both application and qualifying payment must meet the applicable timing rules. Electronic, traceable-mail, regular-mail, and in-person methods do not all use the same cutoff.

Payment can lag after an application is entered. Ask the agent to confirm receipt, eligibility, and the effective date; do not treat an application number or a payment instruction as proof of coverage. Arrange this well before a developing hurricane rather than relying on a last-minute processing window.

The flood waiting period

TDI states that homeowners policies do not cover flood damage and that most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period before taking effect. FEMA confirms that typically there is a 30-day waiting period from the date of purchase before the policy goes into effect.

FloodSmart's buying guide lists exceptions for certain mortgage-related purchases, renewal changes, qualifying map revisions, and post-wildfire flooding. Confirm exact requirements with the agent and lender. There is no general hurricane-season exception.

If you missed the spring review, arrange coverage for future events now and confirm the date it starts. A policy bought during hurricane season can still provide protection after its wait. Private flood terms may differ.

See the Houston flood cost guide for the rating and timing details.

Your windstorm certificate

If you are on the coast, this is the item most likely to block coverage at the worst time.

TDI runs the Windstorm Inspections Program, and its position is that if you live on the coast, your property must meet certain building standards to get windstorm insurance. TDI's TWIA overview states flatly that TWIA requires a certificate for a structure to be eligible for wind and hail coverage.

The certificate types: WPI-8 is the certificate of compliance TDI issues for ongoing construction, inspected while work is underway. WPI-8E covers completed construction. WPI-8-C was issued by TWIA for construction completed between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2020, and those remain valid, with responsibility having passed to TDI on June 1, 2020.

The requirement applies to structures constructed, altered, remodeled, enlarged, repaired, or added to on or after January 1, 1988. An older original structure may qualify for an exception, but later reroofing, alterations, and repairs can still require certification. Most new construction, roof replacements, and major repairs require inspection, while painting, plumbing, and window-glass replacement are exempt. For construction in progress, inspection is by an appointed Texas licensed professional engineer or a TDI windstorm inspector; after completion, by a Texas licensed professional engineer. TDI's fact sheet notes that homeowners can request a free TDI inspector or hire a licensed Texas engineer or appointed qualified inspector, and that TDI does not regulate inspection rates.

The code requirement changed recently. TDI's adopted codes page states that the 2024 International Residential Code or the 2024 International Building Code may be used for windstorm certification, and that starting April 1, 2026, windstorm certificate of compliance applications must be certified to the 2024 codes. Construction must be located within the designated catastrophe areas to be eligible.

Noncompliant residential structures may still be covered under TWIA's noncompliant-structure provisions, which carry a surcharge, with TDI's overview citing 15 percent for certain pre-2009 construction, and which make the property ineligible for building code credits.

If you replaced a roof in the last few years and nobody mentioned a certificate, check now. Chasing an inspection in September is not a plan.

Your deductible, in dollars

TDI's deductibles page, last updated October 14, 2024, carries a worked example under its own heading, and it is the clearest illustration available.

Two homes, each insured for $150,000. Policy A has a $500 deductible. Policy B has a 5 percent deductible, which the page equates to $7,500. A hail storm damages the roof and repairs cost $6,500. Policy A pays $6,000. Policy B pays nothing, because the repairs are less than the deductible.

TDI's advice follows directly: a deductible can be a flat dollar amount or a percentage, so make sure you know how that translates to a dollar amount. The page also notes home and auto deductibles apply per claim, unlike health deductibles which are annual, and that moving from a $500 to a $1,000 deductible can save as much as 20 percent on premiums.

On TWIA policies, the percentage applies to Coverage A. TWIA's filed rate and rule manual confirms it, noting for one endorsement that policies with it must have a TWIA deductible of 1 percent or less of Coverage A.

So do the arithmetic before the season, on your actual Coverage A limit. Our wind and hail deductible guide works through it in more detail.

Part three: what the law gives you after the storm

Filing, and what not to do first

TDI's help after the storm page, last updated September 29, 2026, is the practical sequence:

• Report damage to your agent or company as soon as possible, and keep a record of everyone you speak with
• Ask about an advance payment if you need money quickly
• Ask about living expenses and keep receipts
• Photograph and video the damage, and keep damaged items until the adjuster says you can discard them
• Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage, such as removing standing water and covering openings, and keep a list and the receipts
• Do not make permanent repairs before the adjuster has seen the damage
• Get multiple contractor bids and compare them with the adjuster's report before settling
• Keep proof you paid your deductible, since insurers may ask for it

For TWIA policies specifically, TDI states you have one year from the storm to file a claim, 60 days from the date TWIA accepted your claim to dispute the amount and ask for an appraisal, and for policies started or renewed after January 1, 2020 with replacement cost coverage, 545 days, about 18 months, to complete repairs. To sue TWIA you must give notice, and you have two years to provide notice and file suit.

Claim deadlines depend on the policy

For many Texas property claims, Chapter 542 generally allows 15 days to acknowledge and start investigating, 15 business days after required proof to accept or reject, and five business days after accepting to pay. Written extensions and exceptions can apply.

Those periods are not universal. Eligible surplus lines insurers have different periods, TDI can extend deadlines for qualifying catastrophes, TWIA has a separate process, and NFIP uses federal rules. Ask which applies to each claim.

Keep notice dates, information requests, submissions, and decisions. Use TDI's claim assistance when explanations are unclear. Interest and legal remedies can depend on Chapter 542A and other provisions; an article cannot calculate them for your loss.

Hiring help without creating another problem

Use TDI's storm-recovery guidance to check contractors and claims help. A public adjuster generally needs a Texas license and charges a fee. Texas law also restricts a contractor from acting as a public adjuster for property on which the contractor is providing or may provide repairs. Read every fee and repair contract before signing.

You must pay the applicable property deductible. TDI warns against contractor deductible waivers, including arrangements intended to offset it unlawfully. Keep proof of payment rather than relying on a verbal promise that the deductible will disappear.

Get multiple written bids, check references, and do not sign blank forms. Be cautious about large advance payments and anyone pressing for an immediate assignment of claim rights. Document the condition before cleanup and keep emergency-repair receipts. If work is urgent, confirm necessary steps with the insurer without delaying measures needed for safety.

The checklist, in order

Before June 1:

• Confirm your dwelling limit against current rebuild cost, not purchase price
• Convert your wind and hail deductible into a dollar figure on your actual Coverage A limit
• Confirm whether your roof is covered at replacement cost or actual cash value
• Buy or confirm flood coverage, allowing for the 30-day waiting period
• If coastal, confirm you hold a WPI-8, WPI-8E, or WPI-8-C for any work since January 1, 1988
• Check whether you carry ordinance or law coverage
• Check the actual additional living expense dollar and time limits, triggers, and exclusions
• Update the home inventory and shoot room-by-room video, including closets and drawers
• Save your policy and declarations somewhere you can reach them with no power

Through the season, by the September 10 peak:

• Make any coverage increases now, since a hurricane designation in the Gulf stops TWIA from writing or increasing
• If you are buying TWIA coverage with a storm developing, use eCheck, EFT, or credit card rather than mail, and allow for the several-hour payment lag
• Do not rely on regular mail for anything

After the storm:

• Report the claim promptly and log every conversation
• Make temporary repairs only, and keep receipts
• Keep damaged property until the adjuster releases it
• Ask about an advance payment and additional living expenses
• Confirm the claim deadlines for each policy: homeowners, surplus lines, TWIA, and NFIP procedures differ
• Get three written bids, and refuse any contractor who offers to cover your deductible
• For a TWIA claim, note the one-year filing deadline and the 60-day appraisal window

Frequently asked questions

When should I review hurricane coverage?

Well before a storm threatens. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, but events can occur outside those dates.

What stops TWIA from issuing coverage?

A hurricane meeting TWIA's geographical moratorium trigger restricts new and increased coverage. Confirm both application and payment receipt before relying on an effective date.

Is the flood waiting period always 30 days?

It is usual for new NFIP coverage, but defined mortgage, renewal, map, and wildfire exceptions exist. Private flood terms can differ. There is no general hurricane-season exception.

Which windstorm certificate do I need?

The answer depends on construction date, work performed, inspection path, and eligibility exceptions. Later roof work on an older home may still need certification.

Do all storm claims use the same deadlines?

No. Texas homeowners, surplus lines, TWIA, and federal NFIP processes differ. Ask for the applicable deadlines and retain written records.

Can a contractor waive my deductible?

Texas law requires insureds to pay applicable property deductibles and prohibits unlawful contractor waivers or offsets. Review TDI guidance and keep proof of payment.

Where Argo fits

Bring home, wind, and flood declarations plus roof and construction records so Argo can help identify coverage questions before a storm. If a loss has already occurred, use the claims page for reporting.

Request an insurance policy review to compare your options.

This is general information about insurance and is not legal advice. Deadlines, eligibility rules, and statutory provisions can change and turn on the facts of your situation, coverage varies by carrier and form, and the policy issued controls.