Home Insurance & Hurricane Season in Texas
General Availability Status
Yes, homeowners' insurance remains generally available during Texas's hurricane season, though with important limitations and restrictions. Most standard insurance carriers continue writing new policies throughout the June-November hurricane season for properties located outside coastal counties and high-risk zones. National insurers like State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers typically maintain year-round availability for qualified properties, though with potentially stricter underwriting standards during active seasons. Regional Texas insurers generally follow similar year-round availability patterns, focusing more on property characteristics and claims history than specific calendar dates. Unlike some Atlantic coast states with formal moratoriums, Texas lacks statewide regulations prohibiting new policy issuance during hurricane season.
Binding Restrictions During Storm Threats
While year-round coverage remains available, insurers implement temporary "binding restrictions" when named storms approach specific regions. These restrictions typically activate when a tropical storm or hurricane appears within a specified distance (usually 24-72 hours) from the Texas coast. During these temporary suspensions, insurance companies will not issue new policies, increase coverage limits on existing policies, or make coverage additions until the threat passes. These binding restrictions apply specifically to threatened areas rather than statewide, allowing continued coverage issuance in unaffected regions. Once the storm threat passes, normal underwriting operations resume promptly, typically within 24-48 hours after the storm clears Texas or dissipates.
Coastal Property Limitations
Properties in Texas coastal counties face more significant hurricane season restrictions than inland locations. The fourteen Texas coastal counties (including Galveston, Brazoria, and Nueces) typically experience tighter availability during hurricane season, with some carriers suspending new business completely from June through November. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), which provides wind coverage in coastal areas where standard insurers exclude it, implements binding suspensions across broader geographic areas and for longer durations than standard market insurers. These coastal restrictions reflect the substantially higher hurricane exposure in these regions and insurers' concern about adverse selection (buying insurance only when storms threaten).
Waiting Period Considerations
Even when policies remain available during hurricane season, important waiting periods affect actual protection timing. Most newly-issued Texas homeowners' policies implement 15-30 day waiting periods before wind/hail coverage takes effect, preventing last-minute purchases when storms approach. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program requires a 30-day waiting period before coverage activates, though some private flood insurers offer shorter 10-15 day waiting periods. These timing restrictions effectively prevent obtaining complete hurricane protection once storms enter the Gulf of Mexico, making advance planning essential for Texas homeowners seeking hurricane season coverage.