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 Adjusters · TDI Firm License #3134924
Last updated: July 13, 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 generally has 60 days to accept or reject after receiving requested items 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. Source: TWIA Claims Center (twia.org), verified July 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 |
| TWIA claim decision | 60 days to investigate and notify you of acceptance or denial |
| Payment of an accepted claim | 10 days after TWIA accepts coverage |
| Demand appraisal (amount disputes) | 60 days from the date you receive TWIA’s notice letter (replacement-cost policies may allow additional time stated in the letter) |
| Dispute a coverage denial | Notify TWIA of intent to dispute within 2 years of the claim decision |
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.
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.
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.
TWIA investigates & decides
After receiving all the information it reasonably requests, TWIA generally has 60 days to investigate and notify you in writing whether it accepts or rejects the claim (twia.org/claims).
Payment on accepted claims
Once TWIA accepts a claim and you have provided all requested materials, it generally has 10 days to issue payment, less any applicable deductible and depreciation.
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 a formal process for disputes about the amount TWIA will pay. You generally have 60 days from the date of TWIA’s claim acceptance/assessment letter to demand appraisal. Each side names an appraiser, the two appraisers select an umpire, and the umpire rules on disagreements. The result is binding on the amount of the loss. You pay your own appraiser and half of the umpire’s fee (twia.org/claims).
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 no leverage in appraisal.
Letting the appraisal window lapse
You generally have 60 days from TWIA’s acceptance/assessment letter to demand appraisal on the amount of loss. Miss it and you can lose that avenue to challenge an undervalued amount.
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. For the broader statutory framework, see our Texas insurance claim laws guide.
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 Insurance Claim Laws
Prompt-pay deadlines, the 10% PA fee cap, and Chapter 542A weather claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TWIA and who does it cover?
How long do I have to file a TWIA windstorm claim?
How does a TWIA windstorm deductible work?
How do I dispute a TWIA claim decision?
Can a public adjuster help with a TWIA claim?
Does TWIA cover storm surge or flooding from a hurricane?
Why is my TWIA windstorm deductible so high?
What does the TWIA appraisal process actually decide?
What should I do right after a coastal storm damages my property?
What if TWIA denies my claim or pays less than the damage costs?
How does Texas prompt-pay law apply to a TWIA 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.
