Harvey taught Houston residents a hard truth in 2017. More than fifty inches of rain fell in some neighborhoods, and over half of the homes that flooded weren’t anywhere near FEMA’s high-risk zones. Many homeowners believed they were safe and assumed their standard homeowners policy covered rising water. It didn’t. Standard coverage almost never pays for flood damage. In Houston, flooding isn’t a niche risk—it’s a citywide reality. Without a separate flood policy through the NFIP or a private carrier, you could face six-figure repair costs with no help from your insurer.
The Small Print That Flips a Claim to Denied
Texas policies address windstorm losses in three distinct ways: included, added by endorsement, or excluded to the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. If you don’t know which applies to your home, you’re taking a gamble. Then there’s the “wind-driven rain” exemption. If hurricane winds push water through a closed window or under a door without physically damaging the structure, many carriers won’t pay. This single line in a policy has cost Houston homeowners tens of thousands after storms like Ike and Nicholas. The time to check your policy for this language is now—while you can still make changes.
Three Checks Before the Season Turns Ugly
To prepare your Houston home for hurricane season, start with these three steps:
- Verify you have flood coverage and ensure the limits reflect your actual rebuild costs—not outdated figures or random estimates.
- Confirm your policy includes windstorm coverage and that the inclusion is clear and unambiguous.
- Review Additional Living Expense provisions to ensure they can cover months of displacement. Along the Gulf Coast, rebuild timelines often stretch beyond six months.
At Heydari Financial Group, serving Houston, TX, we walk you through these points to ensure your policies match Houston’s actual storm risks.
If you have even one unanswered question about how your coverage would handle hurricane damage, call Heydari Financial Group in Houston, TX, today. A short conversation now can close the gaps that storms exploit.