Jefferson County Requires Special Windstorm Insurance

Jefferson County is one of 14 first-tier Texas coastal counties. In these counties, private insurers are allowed to leave wind and hail out of your home policy. That means a regular homeowner policy may not pay if a storm damages your roof or walls.

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is a last-resort insurer for people who cannot get wind coverage from a private company. To use TWIA, at least one private company must have denied you that coverage.

To get a TWIA policy, your home usually needs a WPI-8 certificate. That certificate shows the home was inspected and built to meet windstorm building codes. Homes built or changed after January 1, 1988 typically need one.

Ask a licensed insurance agent whether your current policy already covers wind. Go to twia.org for current eligibility rules and a full list of covered property types.