Help After a Disaster Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to help legislators, city/county officials, and other stakeholders provide helpful information to Texans after severe weather or disasters. Below you will find content ideas you can share on your social media channels, flyers you can download and print, postcards you can request OPIC to mail to you, and other resources you may need.

Follow us on social media:

Here are messages you can share on your social media channels. You can either copy these messages directly or customize them to reach your audience. Feel free to substitute “Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC)” in any of the social media posts below with our handles on Twitter and Facebook. 

Wildfires

These flyers can be linked to on social media or printed and shared with constituents/consumers. Click the icon to download a PDF of the flyer below. If you’d like us to mail you copies, free of charge, fill out the publication request form.

These postcards can be linked to on social media or printed and shared with constituents/consumers. Click the icon to download a PDF of the postcards below. If you’d like us to mail you copies of any of these documents, free of charge, fill out the publication request form.

Other OPIC webpages you might find useful:

• Residential Property Claims Handling page: Suffering damage or loss to your home can be stressful. Filing a claim doesn’t have to be. This webpage provides some tips on what to do and what to expect.
• Auto Claims Handling page: Auto accidents can be stressful. Filing a claim does not have to be. This webpage provides some tips on what to do and what to expect.
• Claims Adjusters page: This webpage describes the different type of claims adjusters and what they do.
• Residential Property Bill of Rights: Texas law gives you certain rights as an insurance consumer. The Consumer Bill of Rights for Homeowners, Dwelling, and Renters Insurance outlines many of those important rights.
• Auto Bill of Rights: Texas law gives you certain rights as an insurance consumer. The Consumer Bill of Rights for Personal Automobile Insurance outlines many of those important rights.
• “When Will My Claim Be Paid?” article: This article provides a generic timeline for residential property claims.
• “Decoding Residential Property Deductibles” article: This article describes different types of deductibles and how they work.
• “Avoid Contractor Fraud After a Disaster” article: This article contains tips on hiring a contractor after a storm and avoiding common scams.
• “Ways to Resolve Claim Payment Disputes” article: This article different options consumers have when trying to resolve claim payment disputes, including appraisal.

Helpful Contact Information

• Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): call their Consumer Help Line at 800-252-3439 or visit their website
• Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA): call their Claims Center at 877-281-1431 (English) or 866-443-3144 (Español) visit their website
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): Call 877-336-2627 or visit their website
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): call 1-800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM): call 512-424-2208 or visit their website