Can You Get Insurance Right Before a Hurricane?

With Tropical Storm Bertha now headed toward Southeast Texas and expected to arrive Thursday, this is the most urgent insurance question in the state right now. The answer is largely no — and here is why timing is everything.

The Moratorium: The Door That Closes Before the Storm

The insurance market essentially closes for new coverage once a designated storm reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Most insurance companies, including the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, stop selling new policies or making changes to existing ones once a named storm enters the Gulf. This means you can't wait until a storm is approaching to consider your insurance coverage because you won't be able to purchase or modify it at that time. The entire TWIA coverage area, which includes the 14 coastal counties in Texas as well as portions of Harris County east of Highway 146, is covered by what is known as a binding moratorium. That moratorium is most likely already in place for communities in Galveston, Port Arthur, and other parts of Southeast Texas that are currently under a Tropical Storm Watch.

When It May Still Be Possible

Not all hope is lost if a storm is distant. If a storm is still far out in the ocean and your city is not yet in the projected path, you can still get insurance right away — but if the storm has moved close enough to where your city is already in the projected track, it is too late. Insurers usually stop selling additional coverage once there is a Hurricane Watch in effect — the 48-hour window before the expected onset of tropical storm force winds. With Bertha having already made landfall in Louisiana and tracking toward Texas, that window has closed for most Southeast Texas residents.

Flood Insurance Has Its Own Separate Barrier

Even if a homeowners policy could somehow be obtained today, flood protection would still be unavailable. Most home policies do not pay for damage from rising floodwaters — and NFIP flood policies do not take effect until 30 days after purchase, meaning there is no way to get flood insurance coverage in time for an approaching storm regardless of when the moratorium kicks in.

What You Can Still Do Right Now

If you already have a policy, review it immediately — confirm your dwelling coverage limits, deductibles, and whether wind and flood are both covered. If you already have home insurance, you may be able to make changes to your existing policy before a Hurricane Watch is issued — but that window is closing fast. Contact your insurance agent today to confirm your coverage is active and complete before Bertha arrives Thursday.