Insurance and natural disasters: Protecting clients and their businesses

Mexico Beach, Florida, 16 days after Hurricane Michael hit in October 2018. (Photo: Terry Kelly/Shutterstock)

Previously, a “catastrophic season” may have indicated a certain period over the course of the year, but over the past few years, it’s become clear that severe weather and natural disasters can occur regardless of time and place. Insurers and policyholders no longer have to just worry about “hurricane season” in the Gulf and the Mid- and South Atlantic states or ice storms and snow squalls in the north. It’s now important to be prepared for a variety of major storms, fires, blizzards, and other various types of weather.

Inclement weather and natural disasters will happen; there’s no way for any organization to prevent them. That said, organizations should have emergency preparedness plans in place —  ones that can easily be implemented when Mother Nature rears her ugly head. Insurers can help encourage organizations to create these plans in an effort to protect their physical businesses, their employees and (hopefully) return to work as quickly as possible.