Texas Coastal Windstorm

TWIA Claim Guide

How a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) wind & hail claim works on the coast - who’s covered, the filing & appeal timeline, percentage deductibles, and how a public adjuster can help.

By Dependable Claims Specialists - Public Insurance Adjusters · TDI Firm License #3134924

Last updated: September 1, 2026

Quick Answer

TWIA is the state’s wind and hail insurer of last resort for the 14 first-tier coastal counties plus a portion of Harris County. You generally have one year to file a claim; TWIA has 60 days to accept or deny after it receives your claim or the information it requests in writing, whichever is later, and 10 days to pay an accepted claim. Disputes about the amount are resolved through appraisal or mediation - lawsuits are attorney work.

TWIA Quick Facts: Contacts & Deadlines

The numbers policyholders need most, in one place. Sources: Texas Insurance Code Chapter 2210 and the TWIA Claims Center (twia.org), both verified September 2026.

TWIA claims phone (24/7)	(800) 788-8247
TWIA claims email	claims@twia.org
Report a claim by text	(512) 645-2846
Online claim reporting	TWIA policyholder portal at twia.org
Deadline to file a claim	1 year from the date the property was damaged; the Insurance Commissioner may extend up to 180 days for good cause (§2210.205(b))
TWIA request for more information	TWIA must make any written request for information you hold within 30 days after the claim is filed (§2210.573(b))
TWIA claim decision	60 days after TWIA receives the claim, or receives the information it requested, whichever is later (§2210.573(d))
Payment of an accepted claim	Chapter 2210 addresses the timing of payment once TWIA accepts coverage in full or in part; a licensed attorney is the right person to advise on it
Demand appraisal (amount disputes)	60 days from the date you receive TWIA’s decision notice; one 30-day extension possible on written good-cause request made within 15 days after the window closes (§2210.574)
Replacement-cost documentation	545 days from the date you receive the acceptance notice to submit proof of repair cost and completion (§2210.5741)
Dispute a coverage denial	Notice of intent to bring an action must reach TWIA, and any suit must be filed, within 2 years of receiving the denial notice (§§2210.575, 2210.577) - steps handled by a licensed attorney

Who Does TWIA Cover?

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association was created so coastal policyholders who cannot find windstorm and hail coverage in the voluntary market still have a place to turn. Per twia.org, eligibility covers the 14 designated first-tier coastal counties below, plus part of Harris County.

Aransas

Brazoria

Calhoun

Cameron

Chambers

Galveston

Jefferson

Kenedy

Kleberg

Matagorda

Nueces

Refugio

San Patricio

Willacy

Harris County (partial): TWIA reports that the covered portion of Harris County is inside the city limits and east of Highway 146 - including La Porte, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, and Shore Acres. Eligibility is property-specific, so confirm your address with TWIA.

What a TWIA Policy Covers - and What It Doesn’t

TWIA was created under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 2210 to provide windstorm and hail insurance to coastal property owners who cannot obtain that coverage in the private market. It is a wind-and-hail policy, not a full homeowners policy - understanding that distinction is the single most important thing a coastal policyholder can know before a storm.

Windstorm & hailstorm damage

A TWIA residential or commercial policy is designed to cover direct physical loss caused by wind and hail - the perils excluded or unavailable in many coastal-market policies. This includes wind-driven roof and exterior-envelope damage and, importantly, the interior water intrusion that follows when wind opens up the building.

Dwelling, contents & additional living expense

TWIA writes residential policies that can include the dwelling (Coverage A), personal property/contents, and additional living expense, as well as commercial policies for businesses. Coverage amounts, limits, and any contents/ALE inclusion depend on the specific policy form and limits you purchased.

What TWIA does NOT cover

A TWIA wind/hail policy is not a full homeowners policy. It does not cover flood (federal NFIP or private flood handles rising-water/storm-surge damage), and it does not cover perils outside the wind-and-hail scope. Storm surge in particular is flood, not wind - a frequent and costly point of confusion after a hurricane.

Wind vs. flood is the coastal claim battleground. A hurricane often delivers wind damage (a TWIA peril) and storm-surge/rising-water damage (a flood peril, covered by NFIP or private flood) to the same property. Sorting out which damage came from which peril - and proving it - is where many coastal claims are won or lost. A separate flood policy is generally required for surge and rising-water loss.

Filing a TWIA Claim: The Timeline

Once a windstorm or hailstorm hits, TWIA runs on its own claim clock. These are the general windows TWIA publishes; the exact dates that apply to your loss can vary.

1 year

File within the deadline

TWIA generally allows one year from the date of loss to file a windstorm or hail claim. Filing promptly with photos, a description of the damage, and your policy number gets the clock started.

Decision

TWIA investigates and decides

TWIA reviews the claim and notifies you in writing that it accepts your claim in full, accepts it in part, or denies it. If TWIA asks you in writing for information, send it promptly and keep a dated record of what you sent and when, because that exchange drives the rest of the file. Chapter 2210 sets time limits on this stage; how they apply to your claim is a question for a licensed attorney.

Payment

Payment on accepted claims

Once TWIA notifies you it has accepted the claim in full or in part, payment follows, and where payment depends on you performing some act, do it promptly and document it. Note the date of the acceptance notice and the date of each payment. Chapter 2210 also sets time limits here, and a licensed attorney is the right person to advise on them.

A TWIA policy applies a separate windstorm/named-storm deductible, frequently set as a percentage of your dwelling or building coverage rather than a flat amount. Model the math with our hurricane deductible calculator.

What to Gather Before You File

A claim moves faster and settles closer to its true value when it is well documented from day one. After making sure everyone is safe and the property is secured, assemble the following - and photograph everything before you make temporary repairs.

Your TWIA policy number and declarations page (the dec page lists your limits and the windstorm/named-storm deductible).

Date of loss and the named storm or weather event that caused it.

Dated photos and video of the damage - roof, exterior walls, windows, fences, and every interior room affected by water intrusion, taken before any temporary repairs.

A written description of what happened and a room-by-room/area inventory of damaged property.

Receipts for emergency mitigation (tarps, board-up, water extraction) and any reasonable temporary repairs you made to prevent further damage.

Contractor estimates or invoices if you have them, plus any prior inspection or roof reports.

Disagree With TWIA? How Appeals Work

If you and TWIA disagree, the right path depends on what you disagree about. A dispute over the dollar amount of a covered loss is resolved through appraisal or mediation. A dispute over coverage or an allegation of mishandling is a different matter - and anything requiring a lawsuit is attorney work, not public adjusting.

Appraisal

Appraisal is the statutory process for disputes about the amount TWIA will pay on an accepted claim. You have 60 days from the date you RECEIVE TWIA’s acceptance notice to demand it (Tex. Ins. Code §2210.574(b)); if you miss that window, a written good-cause request made within 15 days after it expires can earn one additional 30-day period, which TWIA may - not must - grant (§2210.574(c)). The appraisal itself runs under your policy’s appraisal terms, and if the two appraisers cannot agree on an umpire, the Insurance Commissioner appoints one from a TDI roster (§2210.574(e)). The decision binds both sides on the amount and is final in all but rare cases; whether any court challenge exists for a given award is a question for a licensed attorney. Costs are split evenly between you and TWIA.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Mediation is the primary form of alternative dispute resolution TWIA uses. Under its rules, ADR is generally completed within 60 days after a party requests it, unless extended, and the parties share the costs equally.

TDI complaints

If you believe TWIA mishandled your claim, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) accepts complaints and can help you understand the process (tdi.texas.gov). Lawsuits and bad-faith claims are legal matters handled by a licensed attorney - not a public adjuster.

Common Mistakes & Coastal Claim Pitfalls

TWIA claims have their own traps - tight deadlines, percentage deductibles, and the wind-versus-flood line that runs through every hurricane loss. These are the avoidable errors that most often leave money on the table.

Missing the one-year filing window

TWIA generally requires that a claim be filed within one year of the date of loss. Wait too long and the claim can be denied as untimely. After a hurricane it is easy to lose track of the date - note it and file promptly.

Confusing wind damage with flood (storm surge)

TWIA covers wind and hail, not flood. Storm surge is flood. If a hurricane brings both, you may need a TWIA wind claim AND a separate NFIP/private flood claim. Documenting which damage came from wind versus rising water is critical and is frequently disputed.

Repairing or discarding before documenting

Make reasonable emergency repairs to prevent further damage - but photograph and video everything first, and keep damaged materials and receipts. Throwing out evidence before it is documented makes the loss harder to prove.

Underestimating the percentage deductible

A named-storm/windstorm deductible is often a percentage of your dwelling or building limit, not a flat dollar figure. On coastal property that can be a large number, and a low-dollar loss may fall entirely under the deductible. Model it before you assume there is a recoverable claim.

Accepting the first number without a real estimate

A field assessment can miss damage, underprice scope, or over-apply depreciation. Without your own line-item estimate, you have no basis to know whether the offer reflects the full covered loss - and nothing to stand on in appraisal.

Letting the appraisal window lapse

You have 60 days from the date you receive TWIA’s decision notice to demand appraisal on the amount of loss (§2210.574(b)). Miss it and that avenue can close, so calendar the date the notice arrives. What the deadline means for your claim is a question for a licensed attorney.

How a Public Adjuster Can Help on a TWIA Claim

Inspect and fully document coastal wind and hail damage - roof, exterior envelope, water intrusion, and interior consequences.

Prepare a detailed, line-item repair estimate and read your policy in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage, exclusions, endorsements, and the windstorm deductible).

Present the claim and supporting evidence to TWIA and negotiate the amount of the loss on your behalf.

Help you weigh whether to demand appraisal when the dispute is about the dollar amount of the damage.

Under Tex. Ins. Code §4102.104, a public adjuster’s total commission may not exceed 10% of the settlement. A public adjuster handles the valuation and documentation of the claim; legal disputes, demand letters, Chapter 542A pre-suit notices, and litigation are work for a licensed attorney, which DCS does not provide.

Related Resources

Hurricane Deductible Calculator

Estimate a percentage windstorm/named-storm deductible on your coastal property.

Hurricane Insurance Claims

How DCS documents and negotiates Texas hurricane damage claims.

Storm & Wind Insurance Claims

Wind- and hail-driven damage claims across Texas.

Texas Public Adjuster Rules

The 10% fee cap, written-contract requirements, and licensing under Insurance Code Chapter 4102.

Corpus Christi Public Adjuster

Coastal Bend windstorm and hail claim help for Nueces County policyholders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TWIA and who does it cover?

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is the state’s wind and hail insurer of last resort. It provides windstorm and hail coverage to eligible policyholders in the 14 designated first-tier coastal counties - Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and Willacy - plus a portion of Harris County. Per TWIA, the covered part of Harris County is inside the city limits and east of Highway 146, including La Porte, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, and Shore Acres (twia.org).

How long do I have to file a TWIA windstorm claim?

You must file a TWIA claim within one year of the date the property was damaged (Tex. Ins. Code §2210.573(a)); on a showing of good cause, the Texas Insurance Commissioner - not TWIA - may extend that window by up to 180 days (§2210.205(b)). Chapter 2210 also sets time limits on TWIA's side of the file, for deciding a claim and for paying an accepted one. What those are on your claim, and what follows if one passes, are questions for a licensed attorney. Confirm the exact dates on your own claim in writing and keep the record dated.

How does a TWIA windstorm deductible work?

TWIA policies apply a windstorm and hail deductible, which is often stated as a percentage of the dwelling or building coverage rather than a flat dollar amount. The deductible (and any applicable depreciation) is subtracted from the covered loss before payment. Because percentage deductibles can be large on coastal property, it helps to estimate yours - our hurricane deductible calculator can model the math.

How do I dispute a TWIA claim decision?

For disagreements about the amount of the loss, TWIA offers appraisal - you have 60 days from the date you receive TWIA’s decision notice to demand it (§2210.574(b)). TWIA also uses mediation as alternative dispute resolution, and the Texas Department of Insurance accepts complaints. Appraisal and ADR address the dollar amount of the claim; lawsuits and bad-faith disputes are legal matters for a licensed attorney.

Can a public adjuster help with a TWIA claim?

Yes. A licensed Texas public adjuster can inspect the damage, document the loss, prepare a detailed estimate, apply your policy and deductible, and negotiate the claim amount with TWIA on your behalf. Under Texas Insurance Code §4102.104 a public adjuster’s total commission may not exceed 10% of the amount of the insurance settlement on a claim. A public adjuster does not practice law or file lawsuits - those are handled by an attorney.

Does TWIA cover storm surge or flooding from a hurricane?

No. TWIA provides windstorm and hail coverage - it does not cover flood, and storm surge is treated as flood, not wind. Rising-water and surge damage is generally handled through the federal National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood policy. When a hurricane causes both wind and water damage, you may have a TWIA wind claim and a separate flood claim, and the central question becomes which damage was caused by wind versus rising water. That wind-versus-flood causation question is one of the most frequently disputed issues in coastal claims, which is why thorough documentation matters.

Why is my TWIA windstorm deductible so high?

TWIA policies typically apply a named-storm/windstorm deductible stated as a percentage of your dwelling or building coverage - not a flat dollar amount. Because coastal dwelling limits can be substantial, a percentage deductible can translate into a large out-of-pocket number, and a smaller loss can fall entirely beneath it. The deductible (and any applicable depreciation) is subtracted from the covered loss before TWIA pays. Always check your declarations page for the exact percentage and model the result - our hurricane deductible calculator can do the math.

What does the TWIA appraisal process actually decide?

Appraisal resolves one thing: the amount of loss TWIA will pay on a claim it accepted in full or in part - never whether a loss is covered (disputing a denial is a separate path handled by a licensed attorney). You have 60 days from receiving TWIA’s decision notice to demand appraisal, in the manner your policy prescribes (Tex. Ins. Code §2210.574(b)). The appraisal follows your policy’s appraisal provision; if the two appraisers cannot agree on an umpire, the Insurance Commissioner appoints one from a TDI-maintained roster (§2210.574(e)), and the costs are split evenly between you and TWIA. The decision binds both sides on the dollar amount and is final in all but rare cases; whether any court challenge exists for a given award is a question for a licensed attorney. Missing the appraisal window waives your right to contest TWIA’s amount (§2210.574(f)), so calendar it the day the decision letter arrives. Appraisal is a claim process, not legal representation, so a public adjuster can participate without practicing law. TWIA policies are excluded from the 2026 mandatory-appraisal statute (Tex. Ins. Code Ch. 1813) that applies to standard personal policies; TWIA follows this Chapter 2210 procedure instead.

What should I do right after a coastal storm damages my property?

Safety first - then document before you repair. Take dated photos and video of every area of damage (roof, exterior, windows, and each interior room with water intrusion) before doing any temporary work. Make reasonable emergency repairs to prevent further damage (tarp the roof, board broken windows, extract standing water) and keep all receipts and damaged materials. Note the date of loss and the storm name, locate your policy number and declarations page, and report the claim to TWIA. Keep your own copy of everything you send.

What if TWIA denies my claim or pays less than the damage costs?

It depends on the nature of the disagreement. If the dispute is about the dollar amount of a covered loss, appraisal is the statutory process to resolve it (you have 60 days from the date you receive TWIA’s decision notice to demand it), and TWIA also offers mediation as alternative dispute resolution. If you believe TWIA mishandled the claim, the Texas Department of Insurance accepts complaints at tdi.texas.gov. A licensed public adjuster can document and re-present an undervalued claim and help you weigh appraisal. Lawsuits, bad-faith claims, and the Chapter 542A pre-suit process are legal matters for a licensed attorney - not a public adjuster.

What is the TWIA 545-day deadline, and is there a deadline for supplemental payments?

The 545-day deadline applies to one thing: a claimant with replacement cost coverage has 545 days from the date they receive TWIA’s acceptance notice to submit documentation of the cost and completion of repairs and collect the replacement-cost payment (Tex. Ins. Code §2210.5741(a)). That section also addresses the answer and the payment that follow it, and how those periods apply to your claim is a question for a licensed attorney. General supplemental payments - additional scope, damage the estimate missed - are authorized by §2210.5732, which sets no deadline of its own. It points to Insurance Commissioner rules, to a conspicuous disclosure in your policy (§2210.205(a)(3)), and to TWIA’s own decision letter, which §2210.573(f-1) addresses as the place the supplemental process and its dates are described; a licensed attorney is the right person to read those provisions for your claim. The controlling dates are therefore in your policy and your decision letter, and TWIA’s claims page warns that negotiating a supplemental payment does NOT pause the appraisal clock. Chapter 2210 never uses the word reopen: post-decision money is either a supplemental payment or a replacement-cost payment.

How long does TWIA have to request more information on a claim?

If you have not given TWIA information in your possession that it needs to decide the claim, TWIA may request it - in writing - no later than the 30th day after the claim is filed (Tex. Ins. Code §2210.573(b)). That request matters, because responding to it promptly and in writing is what keeps the file moving. Chapter 2210 addresses the timing that follows such a request, what a decision notice contains, and whether any of those periods can be extended. Those are legal questions for a licensed attorney. What is within your control is answering the request completely, keeping a copy, and dating everything you send.

How quickly does TWIA acknowledge a new claim?

Chapter 2210 sets no acknowledgement deadline for TWIA. In practice, TWIA’s published residential hurricane claim timeline says a field adjuster typically calls to schedule the inspection about 2 to 5 days after the claim is reported, within an overall timeline of roughly 3 to 4 weeks. The periods §2210.573 addresses come later, covering the written request for information you hold and the decision that follows; how they apply to your claim is a question for a licensed attorney. Answer any request promptly and keep a dated copy of what you send.

How does Texas prompt-pay law apply to a TWIA claim?

TWIA runs on its own claim deadlines under Insurance Code Chapter 2210 - the 60-day decision window and the 10-day payment window described above - rather than the prompt-payment framework that applies to regular Texas carriers. Whether any statute, interest, penalty, or other remedy applies to a mishandled TWIA claim is a legal question for a licensed Texas attorney. A public adjuster’s role is the documentation and valuation underneath the claim.

Educational Information - Not Legal Advice

The information on this page is for general educational purposes only. Dependable Claims Specialists is a licensed public adjusting firm - not a law firm. Public adjusters help policyholders inspect, document, evaluate, and negotiate property insurance claims, which includes reading and applying your policy in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). We do not practice law and we do not provide legal advice. For legal opinions, demand letters, Chapter 542A pre-suit notices, statutory remedies under the Insurance Code, or litigation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Texas public adjusters operate under TX Ins. Code Chapter 4102; Florida public adjusters operate under FL Statute §626.854.

Coastal Wind or Hail Loss? Let’s Review It.

A licensed Texas public adjuster will review your policy and your TWIA loss for free - and document the claim the way it should be presented. No recovery, no fee.

Free Claim Review 833-4UR-LOSS