Storm, Wind & Hurricane in Houston, TX
On the Gulf Coast, one storm can involve a homeowners policy, a windstorm policy and a flood policy at once. We document where the wind opened the structure and where the water came from, so each claim rests on evidence.
Wind from Gulf storms reaches Houston, Texas, and it damages roofs, windows and fences and drops trees onto structures. A big storm also pushes rain into the bayous, including Buffalo Bayou, so a single event can leave both wind damage and flood damage on the same property. Those are usually handled by different policies, so the order of events counts. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 is a reminder that Harris County can see both at once.
We document where the wind opened the structure and where the water came from. On a brick-veneer home with a shingle roof, that means creased and missing shingles, decking uplift and flashing at penetrations, plus any broken windows or wet ceilings under the openings. For older pier-and-beam bungalows, we also check under the floor for water that came in after the wind did. Fences, sheds and tree strikes get their own lines. Windstorm and named storm deductibles are often a percentage, so we check the carrier's math and the value it used. Keep receipts for tarping and board-up, then contact us for a free claim review of your storm loss.
What a carrier's inspection tends to miss on storm, wind & hurricane claims in Houston
- 01
Wind versus water causation
The record that separates a wind-made opening from rising water decides which policy answers for which room.
- 02
The wrong windstorm deductible
Percentage deductibles depend on the insured value and on whether the storm qualified, so the carrier's calculation is worth checking.
- 03
Roof envelope details
Creased and missing shingles, decking uplift, ridge damage and flashing at penetrations are easy to undercount.
- 04
Detached structures and fences
Outbuildings, fences and debris strikes often fall outside the first inspection.
- 05
Interior water from a wind opening
Rain that entered through an opening the wind created may be handled differently from flood water.
- 06
Business income and extra expense
Commercial policies may cover lost income and the cost of operating elsewhere while the property is unusable.
What gets documented on storm, wind & hurricane claims in Houston
- Direction and pattern of wind damage
- High-water marks and debris lines
- Roof shingles, decking, underlayment and flashing
- Where and when water entered the structure
- Windstorm or named storm deductible and insured value
- Fallen trees and wind-borne debris strikes
- Fences and detached structures
- Interior ceilings, insulation, drywall and flooring
- Receipts for tarping and board-up
Local exposure in Houston
Hurricane and tropical storm wind
Wind from Gulf storms reaches Houston and damages roofs, windows, fences and trees onto structures.
Hail from severe thunderstorms
Severe spring storms regularly drop hail across the metro area, and roof damage from it is often disputed as wear and tear.
Which policy pays for storm damage
Questions about storm, wind & hurricane claims in Houston
Answer 01
Often in part. Wind damage is commonly covered by a homeowners policy or, in some coastal counties, a TWIA windstorm policy, usually with a percentage deductible. Storm surge and rising water are flood, which standard policies commonly exclude, so one storm can produce claims under two or three policies.
Often in part. Wind damage is commonly covered by a homeowners policy or, in some coastal counties, a TWIA windstorm policy, usually with a percentage deductible. Storm surge and rising water are flood, which standard policies commonly exclude, so one storm can produce claims under two or three policies.
It is a separate deductible that applies to wind losses from certain storms, usually a percentage of the dwelling limit instead of a flat amount. A 2 percent deductible on a home insured for 400,000 dollars is 8,000 dollars. Check which deductible the carrier applied and what value it used.
Causation is a factual question that is answered with evidence, including high-water marks, debris lines, the pattern of material failure, the order of interior damage and the storm timeline at your address. Where wind made an opening first, the damage that followed may be treated differently.
File with each policy that may apply and document each cause on its own. Standard homeowners policies commonly exclude flood, so rising water usually needs a flood policy. Rain that came through a wind-made opening may be treated differently. The sooner the evidence is recorded, the clearer the split.
Report it as soon as the property is safe to inspect, since most policies require prompt notice. Photograph the damage before temporary repairs, keep receipts for tarping and board-up, and save damaged material until it is documented. Write down the claim number and every call date.