CONTINUED FROM 1 OUT OF BOUNDS
RISING COSTS Natchez Landing’s and The Meridian’s insurance policies about doubled this year compared to last year.
Percent of 2022 insurance for windstorm
2021 insurance cost
2022 insurance cost
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association provides cheaper windstorm insurance to waterfront communities who have trouble nding a private insurer. Galveston, Brazoria and other counties are in TWIA, but in Harris County, only those living east of Hwy. 146 are eligible for TWIA coverage. Natchez Landing and The Meridian are outside TWIA’s bounds.
The Meridian
Natchez Landing
$99,000 $192,000
$26,000
77%
65%
+93.9%
+115.4%
SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, TEXAS WINDSTORM INSURANCE ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
$56,000
The Meridian 1
Natchez Landing 2
Covered by TWIA
Not covered by TWIA
SOURCES: NATCHEZ LANDING TOWNHOME ASSOCIATION, THE MERIDIAN COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Skyrocketing costs Natchez insurance— including windstorm, which insures properties along the coast that may be a ected by heavy gulf storms—cost $99,000 in 2021. This was spread out among unit owners in the form of condo dues they had to pay. In 2022, the amount shot up 93.9% to $192,000. Windstorm accounts for $148,000 of the total, Property Man- ager Zar Wade-Gledhill said. “The reality was worse than any- body expected,” he said, noting typical annual increases are about 10%. Landing’s The Meridian saw similar increases. Its insurance rose from $26,000 in 2021 to $56,000 this year, and windstorm accounts for nearly two-thirds of that, Property Manager Leon Pennel said. “We just didn’t have a choice,”
Pennel said of taking the expensive insurance, noting at least one town- house association board member is moving out because of the increase. Wade-Gledhill said several factors are a ecting insurance rates, including increasing construction costs to rising property values. Not only are wind- storm insurance rates increasing, but it is harder to nd insurers who want waterfront properties’ business, resi- dents and managers said. Due to its “undesirable” location, Natchez Landing was denied by over 30 insurers before the association found an insurer for 2022, Doss said. The Meridian had over 15 denials, Pennel said. “We have to have insurance, and we can’t hardly nd it,” Doss said. “It’s stressful.”
Texas
REPSDORPH RD.
E.NASA PKWY.
Harris County
146
2
1
GALVESTON BAY
Morgan's Point
La Porte
B A MARINA BAY DR. Y D R .
Shoreacres Pasadena
518
N
Seabrook
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
18
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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