Coverage for Severe Wind Damage in Texas

Standard Coverage Provisions

Yes, most homeowners insurance policies in Texas cover severe wind damage under standard dwelling and personal property protection. Wind damage represents one of the fundamental covered perils in HO-3 and HO-5 policies, protecting against damage from straight-line winds, microbursts, Derechos, and tornado activity. This coverage extends to roof damage, siding impacts, broken windows, and structural damage from flying debris propelled by high winds. Interior water damage resulting from wind-driven rain entering through storm-created openings typically receives coverage as wind damage rather than excluded water damage. Texas's frequent severe weather makes wind coverage essential protection that most insurers include without requiring additional endorsements or specialized policies.

Coastal Wind Coverage Exceptions

Properties in Texas's fourteen designated coastal counties face different wind coverage requirements due to hurricane exposure. These coastal areas—including Galveston, Brazoria, and Nueces counties—often exclude wind and hail coverage from standard homeowners policies, requiring separate windstorm insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) or private windstorm carriers. This separation reflects the extreme wind exposure these areas face during hurricane events that standard insurers cannot adequately manage. Coastal property owners must coordinate between standard homeowners coverage (excluding wind) and separate windstorm policies to achieve comprehensive protection against both wind and non-wind perils.

Deductible Considerations

Texas wind damage claims often involve specialized deductible structures that differ from standard property deductibles. Many policies implement percentage-based wind/hail deductibles ranging from 1-5% of dwelling coverage rather than flat-dollar amounts. For a home insured at $300,000, a 2% wind deductible creates $6,000 out-of-pocket costs before insurance applies. Some policies apply separate deductibles for named storms versus other wind events, creating different financial exposure depending on storm classification. Understanding your specific deductible structure becomes crucial for evaluating the financial impact of wind damage claims and determining whether damage levels justify filing claims given potentially substantial deductible obligations.

Documentation and Claims Process

Successful wind damage claims require comprehensive documentation linking damage to wind events rather than other causes. Photograph exterior damage showing wind impacts like missing shingles, siding damage, or debris strikes before any repairs begin. Document interior damage from wind-driven rain through storm-created openings to establish coverage under wind damage rather than excluded flood damage. Weather reports confirming severe wind events help establish causation for damage timing. Professional contractor assessments identifying wind-specific damage patterns provide valuable evidence supporting coverage positions. Immediate mitigation efforts like tarps or emergency repairs should be documented while preserving evidence of original wind damage that created the need for protective measures.