Coastal Windstorm Insurance Is Available Through TWIA

TWIA stands for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. It is the last-resort insurer for wind and hail damage on the Texas Gulf Coast. San Patricio County is in a hurricane-prone zone. Because of that, private insurance companies may refuse to write windstorm coverage there. TWIA steps in when a property owner has been turned down by at least one private insurer.

To qualify, your property must meet Texas building codes. It must also be certified by the Texas Department of Insurance. Homes built or changed after certain dates need a WPI-8 certificate before TWIA will cover them. A WPI-8 is a building inspection form that proves your home was built to wind-resistant standards.

Some V-zone properties built or changed after September 1, 2009 also have to show flood insurance if NFIP coverage is available. Start with TWIA's eligibility page, then ask a licensed TWIA agent how the rule applies to the exact address.