In 1970 Hurricane Celia hit Texas near Corpus Christi as a strong category 3 hurricane. There were 15 fatalities and damages were over 400 million (in 1973 dollars). After those losses most insurance companies ceased writing coverage for Texas costal areas. That was a major problem because it is not possible to get a home mortgage without homeowners insurance. And residents did not want to chance loosing their home to the next big storm.

To protect residents the state created the Texas Catastrophe Property Association. This was later changed to the TWIA.

The TWIA has duties that include promoting hurricane safety and education, developing and enforcing costal building codes, and providing windstorm coverage for certain costal areas. Premiums paid provide a reserve to pay claims. If the reserve is used up companies that issue homeowners policies in Texas are required to provide payments in excess of the state reserve. The association is not designed to produce a profit.

In some ways TWIA has similarities to other insurance companies. There is a written contract with terms and policy coverage descriptions. TWIA collects premiums and pays claims. However they don't have agents contracted to sell policies for them. Instead agents that are properly licensed by the state (like us), represent the insured for the buying transaction. In other words homeowners go to an authorized agent for windstorm coverage, and not directly to the TWIA.

More information about the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is available at www.TWIA.org. You can also call our office for windstorm insurance information at 281-537-2700, or visit our website at www.Texas-Windstorm-Insurance.com.