Texas Tornado Insurance
(Learn how to get the right price on tornado insurance.)
Written by
Financial blogger and business owner, Meg Stefanac, has more than 15 years experience working in the financial services industry and enjoys helping individuals make solid financial decisions. Meg has extensive experience writing about insurance and finances and is a key contributor to TrustedChoice.com.
Tornadoes can happen anywhere. Of all the natural disasters that occur in the United States, tornados leave behind the most expensive damages. Recently, multiple tornados touched down in the Dallas-Fort Worth area injuring more than 100 people and resulting in the destruction of approximately 75 homes. In addition to houses, twisters can destroy vehicles, possessions, businesses and personal finances. Make certain you have adequate Texas tornado insurance to cover your personal property.
An independent agent in the Trusted Choice® network can help you review your currently-held insurance policies to ensure that you have sufficient coverage against tornados. These agents work with several different insurance companies and can provide you with a selection of competitively-priced policies if additional coverage is necessary. Contact an agent near you for more information and you can begin comparing Texas tornado insurance quotes today.
Texas Tornado Facts
- Texas ranks 11th among the 50 states in terms of tornado density
- An average of 132 tornados touch down in this state each year
- In the past 60 years, approximately 63% of all Texas tornados have occurred in April, May or June
- Tornados happen most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening hours
- In 1967, Hurricane Beulah spawned 115 tornados in Texas over a 5-day period
Why Purchase Texas Tornado Insurance?
Texas residents face a significant risk of tornado damage. Hurricanes blowing through the Gulf of Mexico can frequently lead to the formation of tornados here. Also, much of the northern Texas panhandle is located in the area frequently referred to as "Tornado Alley."
Tornados typically travel between 25 and 30 miles per hour, but some have been known to move as quickly as 80 miles per hour. Their destructive forces are further magnified by wind-speeds as high as 300 miles per hour within the funnel. If a tornado touches down near your home, knowing that you have adequate insurance coverage may provide a bit of peace of mind.
Texas Tornados Cause Expensive Damages
- Of the ten costliest tornados ever to strike the U.S., two were in Texas.
- On May 11, 1970, a tornado that touched down in Lubbock, TX resulted in $250 million in damages. Adjusted for inflation, this comes to about $1.5 billion.
- On April 10, 1979, a tornado in Wichita Falls, TX caused $278 million in damages. Adjusted for inflation, this comes to approximately $894 million.
Many property owners only think about possible damage to their homes when they purchase tornado coverage. However, tornadoes can also cause damages to vehicles, boats and other property. In some cases, they can even cause injuries and fatalities. As a resident of Texas, it is important that you ensure that you are fully covered against the devastation and financial losses a tornado can cause.
Tornado Insurance Covers Your Home and Business
The heavy winds of a tornado can blow out windows, rip off roofs and even flatten houses, thereby causing extremely expensive property damage. Twisters can also cause trees to fall onto your property, destroying sheds, fences and other outdoor property or leading to severe structural damage to your house or business. A Texas tornado insurance policy can provide compensation for these damages. Many policies will also provide temporary housing or relocation assistance if storm damages render your home uninhabitable.
You will want to be certain that your homeowners, business or renters insurance policy includes coverage for property damage caused by tornados and other wind storms. Most policies include this coverage automatically, but others may require you to purchase a separate rider, or endorsement, in order to be covered.
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Tornado Insurance Provides Coverage for Your Vehicle
Cars and trucks also need tornado coverage. Uprooted trees, flying debris, downed power lines and tornado-related fires can all lead to severe damage to your vehicle. Tornados can also cause flooding, which can completely destroy a car. The only way to obtain coverage against tornado damage is by including comprehensive coverage in your vehicle insurance policy.
Comprehensive insurance is not mandated by law, but if you finance the purchase of your vehicle, your lender may have required that you carry this coverage for the life of your loan. Because this coverage is optional, many people forego it as a way to save money on their policies.
If your vehicle is old and has little cash value, comprehensive coverage may not be worth the cost. However, if you want to be certain that you have coverage for your car or truck if it is damaged by a tornado or other catastrophe, this additional coverage is good to have. An agent in the Trusted Choice network can help you weigh out your options so you can decide if comprehensive vehicular insurance is right for you.
Insure All Your Valuable Possessions with Tornado Insurance
Houses, buildings and vehicles are not the only valuable possessions that may need protection from tornado damage. Many Texas residents own boats, RVs and ATVs. Insurance for these recreational items is not mandatory and is therefore often overlooked.
It is possible that your homeowners insurance may provide some coverage for these items if they are damaged while they are on your property. However, this coverage may be limited. You may want to give serious consideration to purchasing comprehensive insurance policies for these valuable items as well. A Trusted Choice member agent can help.
Compare Texas Tornado Insurance Quotes
A Trusted Choice member agent can be an excellent resource when you are shopping for tornado insurance. Because these agents are independent of any one particular insurance company, they can shop around to find you the right coverage at a competitive rate. Local agents understand the risks you face in your Texas location and may be able to recommend coverage alternatives you had never before considered.
An insurance professional in the Trusted Choice network can review your current policies with you. If they are lacking in sufficient tornado coverage, your agent can provide help you find competitively-priced policies that can meet all of your coverage needs and may be able to save you money in the process. Contact an agent near you today for more information.