Coastal Windstorm Insurance
The McCorkle Insurance Agency
Specializes in Coastal Windstorm Insurance
Let me paint a picture for you...
It’s 7:00 am, you are watching the news while getting yourself and two kids ready for school and work. You have a full day of meetings to conduct, proposals to design and sales to make. What do you hear…there is a storm forming just to the east of Florida. Its expected path is headed straight for Galveston, TX. Do you have a Texas Windstorm (TWIA) policy in affect to protect your home, assets and family or will you have to rearrange the next few days to find adequate coverage? Wouldn’t you just rather be safe than sorry? This would only be the beginning of your nightmare.
Usually, Homeowner Insurance policies in coastal counties surrounding the Gulf of Mexico do not have Windstorm or Flood insurance included in the policy.
If you live in one of the following counties, flood insurance is a necessity to protect everything you have built your life around:
- Jefferson
- Chambers
- Galveston
- Brazoria
- Matagorda
- Calhoun
- Aransas
- Nueces
- Kleberg
- Kenedy
- Willacy
- Cameron
Who is affected by Coastal Windstorms?
We all saw the horrific effects Galveston Island suffered from Hurricane Ike, not to mention Kemah, Clear Lake, Seabrook,
Friendswood and even Downtown Houston all the way up to the Conroe area. What a disaster area!
- Roofs were ripped off homes all over coastal Houston & Metro Houston
- Windows were blown off high rise buildings Downtown Houston
- Trees fell on top of homes
- Fences were demolished
- People had water coming in from closed windows (wind driven rain)
- Neighborhoods went without electricity for weeks
- Food spoilage from the lack of refrigeration
- Health problems due to the lack of air conditioning and power
- Businesses could not open; some for days, weeks, even months
- Dallas even received the wrath of Ike with heavy rain storms & flooding
McCorkle Insurance Agency was open the very next day after Ike to help people with questions, concerns, claim reporting and support. We might have had ply-wood on the windows and wearing sweat pants with t-shirts but we were here to help! This year we are even more prepared in our new office location with a back-up generator and more space for clients. Our office witnessed way too many horror stories from people that wished they been better prepared.
Today, weather is getting less and less predictable. Don’t take any chances; call us now even if it is just to make sure you currently have the proper insurance coverage in case of any situation. We always look out for our community and try to educate as many people as possible on all types of insurance coverage. Knowledge is power!
The National Weather Service classifies tropical storms as low pressure systems forming over tropical areas, with winds of a minimum of 40 mph. Hurricanes are classified by using the Saffir/Simpson intensity scale which measures atmospheric pressure in terms of millibars (mb) or inches of mercury, along with wind speeds, storm surge and damage:
| Category | Wind speeds | Pressures | Storm surge | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 74-95 mph | Greater than 980mb | 4-5 ft. | Light |
| 2 | 96-110 mph | 965-979 mb | 6-8 ft. | Moderate |
| 3 | 111-130 mph | 945-964 mb | 9-12 ft. | Extensive |
| 4 | 131-155 mph | 920-944 mb | 13-18 ft. | Extreme |
| 5 | More than 155 mph | Less than 920 mb | Greater than 18 ft. | Catastrophic |