Garage Doors and Hurricanes in Cameron County
Short answer: The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says garage door failures were behind 80% of home failures in recent hurricanes. Cameron County is inside the Texas windstorm area: Brownsville is in a 120 mph zone and Harlingen in a 110 mph zone on TDI's map. If you have TWIA coverage, a new garage door goes through a TDI windstorm inspection, so talk to your agent and the provider before it's installed.
Last updated: November 5, 2026
Hurricane season on the Texas coast runs from June 1 to November 30. In the lower Valley, the garage door deserves a place on your storm checklist next to the windows and the roof.
Why the garage door matters
TDI's brochure on garage doors says failures of the garage door were behind 80% of home failures in recent hurricanes. A door that's dented, loose or worn is a weaker door, so it's worth checking before the season and asking about wind ratings when you replace one.
Your wind zone
TDI's windstorm map for Cameron County divides the county into wind zones:
| City | TDI zone | Wind speed on the map |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | Inland I | 120 mph |
| Harlingen | Inland II | 110 mph |
Other parts of the county have different zones on the same map. Your provider and your insurance agent can tell you which zone your address is in.
TWIA and the windstorm inspection
Cameron County is one of the 14 coastal counties served by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). Here's what matters for garage doors:
- TWIA needs a certificate. To get TWIA coverage, improvements to a home need a windstorm Certificate of Compliance from TDI. Garage doors are on the list of items that count.
- A new garage door isn't on the "no inspection needed" list. TDI says most new construction, roof replacements and major repairs must be inspected before you can get TWIA coverage, and publishes a list of repairs that don't need one. Garage doors aren't on that list.
- Doors are tested for wind. Garage doors used in Texas are tested to a wind-load standard, and TDI publishes a list of evaluated products.
What to do: if you have TWIA coverage, or may want it, ask your insurance agent and the garage door provider before the new door goes in, and ask how the inspection will be handled. For a question about a specific job, TDI's windstorm program answers at 800-248-6032.
Getting your door ready for storm season
Do these before June, not when a storm is in the forecast:
- Have the door checked. Loose hinges, bent tracks, missing fasteners and worn springs weaken a door. A pro can tighten and fix them.
- Fix dents and damaged panels. A damaged panel is a weak spot.
- Ask about bracing. Ask the provider whether your door can be reinforced, and whether that affects the windstorm inspection.
- Know your manual release. When the power goes out, the opener won't run. Ask the provider to show you how to use the release safely on your door. Never use it if a spring is broken.
- Keep the garage clear so the door can close fully and nothing blocks the sensors.
After a storm
- Stay away from a door that's bent, off its tracks or hanging crooked. Springs and cables may still be under tension.
- Take photos of the damage for your insurance company before anything is moved.
- Call a garage door pro to secure the door.
- Be careful with door-to-door sellers. TDI warns about contractors who show up after a storm. Ask for three written estimates and check the contractor's insurance.
Hurricane Hanna in July 2020 showed how fast this can happen: the National Weather Service recorded a 63 mph gust in Harlingen, and at least 250,000 customers in the Valley lost power.
Questions to ask about a new door
- Is this door on TDI's list of evaluated products?
- What wind rating does it have, and is it right for my zone?
- How will the windstorm inspection be done, and who arranges it?
- What will the door, installation and removal of the old door cost, in writing?
More on prices in garage door repair cost in the RGV, and on the choice itself in repair or replace. For a new door, see garage door replacement.
Getting ready for storm season?
Call and talk to a local garage door pro in Brownsville or Harlingen.
Call a local garage door pro
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance – Repairing or replacing your garage door (PDF)
- Texas Department of Insurance – Cameron County windstorm map
- Texas Department of Insurance – Home repairs that don't require a windstorm inspection
- Texas Department of Insurance – Windstorm building FAQ
- TWIA – Windstorm certification
- TWIA – Coverage area
- NOAA – Atlantic hurricane season
- National Weather Service Brownsville – Hurricane Hanna