--- title: "Texas Storm Preparedness Guide — Prep, Claims & Emergency Contacts | Corbivo" description: "How Texas homeowners prepare for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and winter storms — plus how to file an insurance claim in Texas, TDI's help line, and official state resources." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#organization", "name": "Corbivo", "url": "https://corbivo.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://corbivo.com/corbivo-logo-square.png", "width": 1024, "height": 1024, "contentUrl": "https://corbivo.com/corbivo-logo-square.png" }, "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://corbivo.com/corbivo-logo-square.png", "width": 1024, "height": 1024 }, "description": "Corbivo is a home title-protection and home-inventory app that documents your home, monitors your deed 24/7, and keeps records ready for insurance, FEMA, and resale." }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#website", "url": "https://corbivo.com/", "name": "Corbivo", "publisher": { "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "SoftwareApplication", "@id": "https://corbivo.com/#app", "name": "Corbivo", "applicationCategory": "LifestyleApplication", "operatingSystem": "Web", "url": "https://corbivo.com/", "description": "Home title protection and home-inventory app. AI-scans appliances, receipts, warranties and manuals; monitors your deed 24/7; and keeps disaster-ready, tax-ready records.", "offers": { "@type": "Offer", "price": "0", "priceCurrency": "USD", "description": "14-day free trial, card required, cancel anytime" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Texas Storm & Disaster Preparedness: Home Prep, Insurance Claims & Emergency Contacts", "description": "How Texas homeowners prepare for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and winter storms — plus how to file an insurance claim in Texas, TDI's help line, and official state resources.", "datePublished": "2026-11-01", "dateModified": "2026-11-01", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Corbivo Team", "url": "https://corbivo.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Corbivo", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://corbivo.com/favicon.jpg" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://corbivo.com/storm-prep/texas/", "about": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Texas, United States" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is tornado season in Texas?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Texas sees tornadoes year-round but the peak runs March through May, when Gulf moisture collides with dryline systems moving off the Caballo Mesa. North Texas and the Panhandle sit inside classic Tornado Alley; East Texas shares the nighttime, cool-season Dixie Alley pattern that makes tornadoes statistically deadlier. A secondary uptick occurs in the fall as cold fronts return." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Texas get hurricanes?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. The Texas Gulf Coast — from Brownsville to Beaumont — is one of the most hurricane-exposed coastlines in the country. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with peak activity from mid-August through October. Hurricane Harvey (2017) dropped more than 60 inches of rain in parts of southeast Texas and caused catastrophic flooding well inland from landfall." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does homeowners insurance cover freeze and burst pipe damage in Texas?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually yes — sudden and accidental water discharge from a burst pipe is typically covered by a standard Texas homeowners policy, including the resulting water damage. But coverage can be denied if the insurer decides you failed to maintain heat or drain the system during a freeze. After Winter Storm Uri (February 2021), thousands of Texans learned this the hard way. Read your policy's freeze and vacancy clauses now, not after the storm." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who do I call after storm damage in Texas?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For any life-threatening emergency call 911 first. For non-emergency help, dial 2-1-1 Texas for disaster info and referrals. Contact your insurer's 24/7 claims line to open a claim. If your claim is delayed, denied, or underpaid, call the Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 (English and Spanish). Coastal policyholders with a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association policy can call 1-800-788-8247." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I file an insurance claim in Texas?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Photograph and video all damage before you clean up or move anything. Call your insurer's 24/7 claims line and get a claim number and adjuster name in writing. Make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage and keep every receipt. Don't make permanent repairs until the adjuster inspects. If the claim isn't resolved fairly, file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance at 1-800-252-3439." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Texas insurance cover flooding?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Standard Texas homeowners policies exclude flood damage — including flooding from hurricanes, tropical remnants, and Flash Flood Alley thunderstorms. Flood coverage requires a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP, 1-800-427-4661, FloodSmart.gov) or a private flood insurer. Most NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period before they take effect, so buying it as a storm approaches will not help." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://corbivo.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Storm Prep", "item": "https://corbivo.com/storm-prep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Texas", "item": "https://corbivo.com/storm-prep/texas/" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How should Texas homeowners prepare their home records for hurricane season?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Texas homeowners should photograph and document their home, valuables, and key papers before the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, then store that record somewhere it can survive the storm. The Texas coast and its low-lying interior face a compound threat: storm surge along the Gulf and catastrophic rainfall flooding well inland. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 made that danger unmistakable, dropping more than 60 inches of rain near Nederland and flooding tens of thousands of Houston-area homes, becoming the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the U.S. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) urges residents to review insurance coverage and flood risk each season, with guidance posted at TexasReady.gov. Complete home records made in advance move that process from frantic to routine. Corbivo keeps a FEMA-ready home inventory and your full home file backed up off-site, so if you file an insurance or federal-assistance claim after a hurricane, your documentation is already complete and accessible from anywhere." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is hurricane season in Texas?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Texas falls within the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30, with the greatest risk of Gulf landfalls concentrated in August, September, and October. Coastal counties from Brownsville to Beaumont face storm surge and wind, but Texas's defining hazard is inland flooding: slow-moving systems can stall over the state and unload feet of rain far from the shore, as Hurricane Harvey did across metro Houston in 2017. Homeowners statewide, not just on the coast, should plan for flood risk each season." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to main content](#main-content) [![Corbivo™](/assets/corbivo-logo-ClvvuQzE.png)](/) [Pricing](/pricing)[How It Works](/how-it-works)[TitleVault™](/title-vault)[Sign in](/login)[Get your score — FREE](/signup) ![Massive supercell storm over Texas plains with an intact home](/assets/storm-prep-texas-hero-CLq4UlNm.jpg) [Home](/)/ [Storm Prep](/storm-prep/)/ Texas Texas # Texas Storm & Disaster Preparedness: Home Prep, Insurance Claims & Emergency Contacts A homeowner's guide for Texas — hurricanes, tornadoes, giant hail, and hard freezes. What to do before, who to call after, and how to get your claim paid. By Corbivo Team Last updated: November 2026 ## 1\. Texas's severe weather risk, by the numbers Texas has absorbed more than **$300 billion** in weather and climate disaster costs since 1980 — more than any other U.S. state — and the state faces nearly every category of severe weather in the country. On the Gulf Coast, **Hurricane Harvey** (August 2017) stalled over southeast Texas and produced catastrophic, days-long flooding — with more than 60 inches of rain in some locations — well inland from where it made landfall. The Atlantic hurricane season runs **June 1 through November 30**, with peak activity from mid-August through October. Inland, North Texas and the Panhandle sit inside **Tornado Alley**, and the DFW Metroplex is one of the most hail-prone metro areas in the country — giant, softball-sized stones are not unusual in spring. East Texas shares the deadlier, nighttime cool-season tornado pattern of Dixie Alley. **Winter Storm Uri** (February 2021) exposed a different vulnerability entirely — statewide hard freezes, grid failure, and widespread **burst-pipe damage** in homes never designed for sub-zero temperatures. Central Texas is also known as **Flash Flood Alley**, and the Panhandle and Hill Country see recurring wildfire risk in fall. ## 2\. Texas seasonal preparedness timeline Month-by-month, what's likely, and what to do this month to be ready. Months Primary hazard Do this month Dec – Feb Winter freezes, ice, burst pipes Insulate exposed pipes, know where your main shutoff is, service generator, keep drip faucets and cabinet doors open during hard freezes. Mar – May Peak tornado + giant hail season (esp. DFW, N. TX) Sign up for county alerts, identify safe room, park vehicles under cover before storms, review roof and hail-coverage limits. Jun – Aug Extreme heat, early hurricanes, derechos Service HVAC, clear gutters, secure loose outdoor items, back up documents, fill vehicles before named storms. Jun – Nov Hurricane season (peak Aug–Oct, Gulf Coast) Coastal counties: know your evacuation zone and route, install/inspect shutters or impact windows, refill prescriptions. Sep – Nov Fall wildfire risk (Panhandle, Hill Country) Clear defensible space, remove leaf litter from roofs and gutters, confirm home inventory is current before year-end. ## 3\. Hardening your Texas home In Texas, the biggest claim drivers are hail-damaged roofs, wind losses, burst pipes from hard freezes, and flash flooding — often in the same calendar year. - **Freeze & pipe prep.** Insulate every exposed pipe — attics, garages, exterior walls. Know where the main shutoff is and how to open it in the dark. During hard freezes, drip faucets on exterior walls and open cabinet doors to let heat reach pipes. - **Hail-rated roofing.** When re-roofing, ask for Class 4 impact-rated shingles. Many Texas insurers offer a premium discount for them, and they hold up dramatically better in DFW-style hailstorms. - **Coastal wind protection.** Along the Gulf Coast, install hurricane shutters or impact-rated windows and reinforce garage doors — a common failure point in high winds. Confirm you have TWIA or private wind/hail coverage where required. - **Tree & limb management.** Have an arborist inspect any large tree within striking distance of the house. Remove dead limbs and leaning trees before storm season, not after. - **Generator safety.** Operate generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows and doors. Never inside a garage — even with the door open. CO poisoning kills Texans every winter storm. - **Flash-flood barriers.** In Flash Flood Alley (Central Texas, Hill Country), never drive into a flooded roadway. At home, keep sandbags or reusable flood barriers on hand if you're in a known flood-prone area, and elevate mechanical equipment where feasible. ## 4\. Document your home before the storm Hail, wind, and freeze claims in Texas are documentation-heavy — adjusters pay claims on proof, and undocumented belongings are the single biggest reason Texas homeowners get underpaid. The [Texas Department of Insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/) recommends creating a detailed home inventory — room-by-room photos or video of your belongings — and storing it somewhere that will survive the event that damages your home. After a hailstorm or hurricane, a documented pre-loss record is the fastest way to a fair settlement. - Walk every room with your phone and record slow, deliberate video. Open closets, drawers, and cabinets. - Photograph the front of every appliance and its data plate (brand, model, serial number). - Keep receipts, order confirmations, and warranty registrations for expensive items. - Store the whole record off-site — cloud storage, an email to yourself, or a service that keeps a timestamped copy. Hail, wind, and freeze claims live or die on documentation. **Corbivo builds and stores that record for you automatically** — a timestamped inventory of your home, appliances, and belongings, ready when you need it. [Start your Texas home file — free](/signup) ## 5\. After a storm in Texas: first steps 1. **Call 911 for any life-threatening emergency.** Account for family and neighbors. Avoid downed power lines, gas leaks, and damaged structures. Never drive into flooded roadways. 2. **Document damage before you clean up.** Photograph and video every angle — exterior, roof from the ground, interior rooms, damaged belongings, hail dents on gutters and A/C fins, and any standing water lines. 3. **Make temporary repairs.** Tarp the roof, cover broken windows, cap burst pipes, move wet items to dry spots. Save every receipt — insurers reimburse reasonable mitigation costs. 4. **Wait for the adjuster before permanent repairs.** Cleaning up glass and debris is fine; replacing a roof or gutting drywall before the adjuster inspects will cost you on the estimate. 5. **Beware post-storm contractor scams.** Texas sees a surge of door-to-door "storm chaser" roofers after major hail events. Never pay in full up front, never sign an assignment-of-benefits form under pressure, and verify a Texas contractor's credentials and references before hiring. ## 6\. How to file a home insurance claim in Texas 1. **Call your insurer's 24/7 claims line.** Have your policy number ready. Coastal wind/hail policyholders call TWIA at 1-800-788-8247. 2. **Get a claim number and adjuster name in writing.** Put both at the top of every email and note. 3. **Send your documentation.** Photos, video, receipts, your pre-loss inventory, and a written summary of what happened. 4. **Meet the adjuster on-site.** Walk them through every damaged area — especially easy-to-miss items like hail-bruised shingles, dented A/C fins, water behind trim, and freeze damage in attics and exterior walls. 5. **Review the itemized settlement carefully.** If items are missing or valued low, respond in writing with your evidence. 6. **Keep a claims diary.** Date, person, phone number, what was said. 7. **If unresolved, contact the** [Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/): [800-252-3439](tel:+18002523439) (English & Spanish). Coastal TWIA policyholders: [800-788-8247](tel:+18007888247). **Reminder:** Standard Texas homeowners policies do not cover flooding — including hurricane and Flash Flood Alley rainfall. Rising water requires a separate NFIP or private flood policy, and most NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period. ## 7\. Texas emergency contacts Need Contact Life-threatening emergency 911 Texas disaster info & referral [2-1-1 Texas](https://www.211texas.org/) Texas Dept of Insurance Help Line [1-800-252-3439](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/) Texas Windstorm Insurance Assn (coastal) [1-800-788-8247](https://www.twia.org/) FEMA Disaster Assistance [1-800-621-3362](https://www.disasterassistance.gov/) NFIP Flood Insurance [1-800-427-4661](https://www.floodsmart.gov/) Find your county emergency management [tdem.texas.gov](https://tdem.texas.gov/) ## 8\. County & regional coordination The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) organizes the state into **8 regions** and **21 Disaster Districts**. Under Texas law, your county Judge (or city Mayor) is the local Emergency Management director — the elected official responsible for evacuation orders, shelters, and damage reporting in your community. Your county Office of Emergency Management is usually the fastest number to have on hand during and after an event — [find your county OEM at tdem.texas.gov](https://tdem.texas.gov/). ## Frequently asked questions ### When is tornado season in Texas? ### Does Texas get hurricanes? ### Does homeowners insurance cover freeze and burst pipe damage in Texas? ### Who do I call after storm damage in Texas? ### How do I file an insurance claim in Texas? ### Does Texas insurance cover flooding? ## Official Texas Resources - [ TDEM Texas Division of Emergency Management — 8 regions, 21 Disaster Districts ](https://tdem.texas.gov/) - [ Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line 1-800-252-3439 (English & Spanish) ](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/) - [ Texas Windstorm Insurance Assn Coastal residual-market wind & hail insurer — 1-800-788-8247 ](https://www.twia.org/) - [ 2-1-1 Texas Statewide disaster info, shelters, and referrals ](https://www.211texas.org/) - [ DisasterAssistance.gov Apply for federal disaster help ](https://www.disasterassistance.gov/) - [ NFIP FloodSmart Flood insurance information — 1-800-427-4661 ](https://www.floodsmart.gov/) - [ National Hurricane Center Official NOAA tropical forecasts and advisories ](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) - [ NWS Fort Worth National Weather Service — North & Central Texas forecast office ](https://www.weather.gov/fwd/) More storm resources For the full preparedness, documentation, and claims playbook — plus other state guides as they roll out — see our [main Storm & Tornado Preparedness Guide](/storm-prep/). ### Have your Texas home claim ready before the next storm Corbivo keeps a timestamped, cloud-stored record of your home and belongings — the proof insurers pay claims on. [Get started free](/signup) Texas hurricane prep ## Answers for Texas homeowners ## How should Texas homeowners prepare their home records for hurricane season? Texas homeowners should photograph and document their home, valuables, and key papers before the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, then store that record somewhere it can survive the storm. The Texas coast and its low-lying interior face a compound threat: storm surge along the Gulf and catastrophic rainfall flooding well inland. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 made that danger unmistakable, dropping more than 60 inches of rain near Nederland and flooding tens of thousands of Houston-area homes, becoming the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the U.S. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) urges residents to review insurance coverage and flood risk each season, with guidance posted at TexasReady.gov. Complete home records made in advance move that process from frantic to routine. Corbivo keeps a FEMA-ready home inventory and your full home file backed up off-site, so if you file an insurance or federal-assistance claim after a hurricane, your documentation is already complete and accessible from anywhere. ## When is hurricane season in Texas? Texas falls within the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30, with the greatest risk of Gulf landfalls concentrated in August, September, and October. Coastal counties from Brownsville to Beaumont face storm surge and wind, but Texas's defining hazard is inland flooding: slow-moving systems can stall over the state and unload feet of rain far from the shore, as Hurricane Harvey did across metro Houston in 2017. Homeowners statewide, not just on the coast, should plan for flood risk each season. [![Corbivo™](/assets/corbivo-logo-white-F9K1zQW4.png)](/) Your home's complete digital file. Track, maintain, and protect. TitleVault™ Home Title Protection included on every paid plan. 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