all teeth Texas is clearly bigger, including extreme weather. Hurricane season in Texas runs from June to late November, but the most dangerous time for hurricanes in the Lone Star State is from August to mid-October. But that doesn’t mean Texas homeowners should let their guard down during other months of the year. Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in July 2024 and caused between $28 billion and $32 billion in damage. In addition, hurricanes hit the Texas coast every month of hurricane season except November, according to National Weather Service data.
The key to hurricane preparedness is more than just boarding up your windows. To financially protect yourself from hurricane damage, it’s important to purchase home, flood, and wind insurance, depending on where you live, before the Texas hurricane season begins.
When is hurricane season in Texas?
Official hurricane season in Texas, like the rest of the United States, runs from June 1st to November 30th. However, August through October are generally considered to be the peak months of hurricane season. Historically most storm activity occurred during these months. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), approximately 78 percent of tropical cyclone days, 87 percent of minor hurricane days, and 96 percent of major hurricane days occur within this 92-day period.
Are hurricanes common in Texas?
Texas has a long history of hurricanes, with the oldest recorded hurricane making landfall here in 1851. Then, in 1900, the Great Galveston Hurricane devastated the Galveston Bay Area. It was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, claiming between 8,000 and 12,000 lives.
Since 1900, Texas has been more directly affected by hurricanes than any other state except Florida. The average annual incidence of tropical storms or hurricanes in Texas is 0.8. This means that Texas can expect an average of about three hurricanes or tropical storms over a four-year period. Over the past 20 years, Texas has been the most directly affected by hurricanes. Hurricane Harvey in 2015 was the deadliest and costliest.
Some of the worst hurricanes in Texas history include:
- Hurricane Carla (1961) – Category 4, $1.9 billion in damage, 125 deaths
- Hurricane Beulah (1967) – Category 5, $1.6 billion in damage, 56 deaths
- Hurricane Alicia (1983) – Category 3, $1.3 billion in damage, 18 deaths
- Hurricane Rita (2005) – Category 3, $20.6 billion in damage, 11 deaths
- Hurricane Ike (2008) – Category 3, $32.3 billion in damage, 23 deaths
- Hurricane Harvey (2015) – Category 4, $125 billion in damage, 68 deaths
- Hurricane Beryl (2024) — Category 5, $28-32 billion in damage, 36 deaths
Common types of hurricane damage
Hurricanes most commonly cause wind damage and flood damage, both of which can require major repairs to your home. Average sustained wind speeds during hurricane landfall range from 160 to 150 miles per hour, with winds from stronger storms exceeding 200 miles per hour.
If you are in the path of a hurricane, wind damage may occur to your home. Structural damage is common, such as roof or siding damage. Hurricanes can also cause severe flooding due to storm surge and heavy rain. This can cause severe damage to the interior and exterior, or a total loss of your home.
According to NOAA, the average cost of each severe flood caused by a hurricane is about $4.7 billion. Severe storms, the most frequent type of disaster, cost an average of $2.3 billion each.
How to prepare your home for hurricane season
Preparing your home and family before a hurricane hits may help you avoid damage and stay safe.
1. Review your insurance contract
It’s important to take the time to review your homeowner’s insurance policy before hurricane season. That way, you can understand what your insurance will and won’t cover before you file a claim. Many policies have exclusions, and it’s not uncommon to need endorsements or separate insurance for certain types of coverage.
For example, standard home insurance policies don’t cover flooding, and insurance companies may pause adding coverage before a hurricane. Therefore, reviewing your insurance before a storm approaches can help ensure you have adequate coverage.
texas storm insurance
In some counties along the Gulf Coast, wind damage is not covered by home insurance. These include:
- Aransas
- Brazoria
- calhoun
- cameron
- chambers
- galveston
- Harris (east of Highway 146)
- jefferson
- kennedy
- Cleverberg
- matagorda
- walnut
- refugio
- saint patrick
- willacy
If you live in one of the counties listed above, you must purchase wind insurance to financially protect yourself from wind damage. In addition, homeowners in Brooks, Fort Bend, Goliad, Hardin, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Wells, Liberty, Live Oak, Orange, Victoria, and Wharton Counties receive standard You may not have wind coverage through your home insurance. Wind insurance can be purchased through private insurance companies or the Texas Storm Insurance Association.
2. Inspect and maintain your roof before hurricane season
Roof damage is common during hurricanes, but you can take proactive steps to minimize the impact on your roof. Inspect your roof before hurricane season. Look for missing or damaged shingles. It may also be helpful to check the slope of your roof to make sure it’s sloped enough to direct water away from your home.
3. Remove debris and loose items from your yard
Removing debris from your yard and securing loose objects can help protect you from hurricane damage. Take the time before hurricane season to remove anything from your property that could be blown away by strong winds or washed away by floodwaters. Pay close attention to AC units, gutters, antennas, and satellite dishes. Safely store items that could cause damage to your home, such as patio furniture, wind chimes, and birdbaths.
4. Garden and plant maintenance
Consider removing trees and plants within 20 feet of your home to reduce damage if they fall during a storm. Pay attention to basic lawn maintenance, such as filling in low spots that are prone to flooding and removing overgrown branches.
5. Run the generator
Power outages are not uncommon during hurricanes, so it’s helpful to have a generator on hand to power your refrigerator and other appliances. The generator should be installed in an open space away from the house, ideally in a garage or shed.
6. If you have an above ground pool, drain and store it.
Hurricanes can cause heavy rain and flooding, and pools can easily flood and overflow. In windy weather, above-ground pools and pool covers can also become exposed to flying debris.
7. Prepare emergency items and evacuation methods
As hurricane season approaches, make sure your emergency kit is stocked with essentials such as water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit. Gather important documents, such as your birth certificate, passport, and insurance information, in a waterproof, accessible container. If you have a pet, include essentials for your pet in your emergency kit, such as food, medicine, a leash, and a carrier to transport your pet if needed. Create an evacuation plan that specifies your route and destination in case authorities issue an evacuation order. By planning ahead, you and your loved ones, including your pets, can quickly evacuate and stay safe during a hurricane.
