Building resilience key to protecting against severe convective storms

Severe convective storms have become one of the most persistent and costly threats facing businesses in the United States. These storms are more than a spring or summer thunderstorm. They are a recurring business disruption with direct consequences for property, operations, labor, supply chains, and insurance costs. 

The most frequent billion-dollar disaster isn’t a hurricane

Severe thunderstorms were the most frequent driver of billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S. over the last 10 years, and 2025 followed that pattern. Of the 23 billion-dollar disasters last year, 21 were severe storms, causing more than $51 billion in damages. 

The longer-term trend is just as important. Since 2020, severe storms have accounted for roughly two-thirds of all billion-dollar disasters and about 28% of total damage costs. Hurricanes still drive a larger share of overall damage dollars, but severe convective storms are happening more often and touching more businesses in more places. 

This frequency should change how businesses think about resilience.  

Severe convective storms can damage roofs, windows, HVAC systems, signs, utility connections, fleets, and electronics. They can also trigger flooding, lightning damage, and tornadoes, events that can expand the loss even further. 

For business leaders, the lesson is clear: resilience planning can no longer focus only on catastrophic outliers. It must account for frequent, compounding events. 

Risk awareness is rising, but readiness is still uneven

Commercial property stakeholders – commercial property owners, business owners, and new construction builders — understand the threat. Nationwide’s recent property protection survey found that 67% are highly concerned about damage from severe weather and natural disasters. Nationally, the risks that concern them most are damaging winds at 88%, flooding at 78%, and lightning at 78%. 

In states prone to severe convective storms, concern becomes even more specific. Eighty percent of respondents said they believe they are most at risk from damaging winds, while 76% identified flooding as a major threat. That aligns closely with the real-world loss patterns businesses are experiencing. 

But concern alone does not equal preparedness. 

A persistent gap remains between perceived readiness and actual protection. In earlier Nationwide research, 67% of property stakeholders said they were prepared for severe weather events. Yet agents were far less confident, with a majority believing that fewer than half of their clients had appropriate coverage for the climate risks they face. More recent findings deepen that concern: 26% of commercial property stakeholders said they knowingly carry inadequate insurance coverage for severe weather events, and 42% said they would consider reducing coverage to lower premiums. 

This is where many businesses become exposed. They may have a response plan. They may feel informed. They may even have completed some upgrades. But if physical protections, continuity planning, and insurance coverage are not aligned, the business is still vulnerable. 

The geography of risk is broader than many businesses assume

Severe convective storms are more than a regional problem. While spring and early summer remain peak periods in the central U.S., the threat is not confined to traditional storm corridors. 

Severe weather can happen any time of year. In 2023, the U.S. saw a record 410 tornadoes during the first three months of the year. Southern states often experience a secondary severe weather season in November and December. At the same time, some research suggests tornadic activity may be shifting eastward, with more activity in parts of the Midwest and Southeast and less concentration in the traditional Tornado Alley footprint. 

This matters for businesses with multiple sites, supplier networks, or mobile assets. Weather exposure is no longer a question of whether a location sits on a coastline or in a known storm belt. It is a question of whether the business has identified how changing weather patterns could affect its facilities, workforce, transportation routes, and continuity plans. 

The business impact goes far beyond property damage

Physical damage is often the first loss people think about when it comes to severe storms, but it is rarely the only one. 

Over the past 30 years, weather has become far more prominent in annual business reporting. In 1994, only 25% of businesses mentioned weather as affecting business results. By 2018, that figure had risen to 65%. That increase reflects a broader reality: weather is now a strategic operating issue, not just a facilities issue. 

This is why storm readiness should not sit only with facilities or risk management teams. It belongs in a broader business strategy. 

Preparedness should move from reactive to structural

A stronger approach starts with the property itself. 

• Storm shutters, shatter-resistant film, and high-impact glass can help protect windows from windborne debris. 

• Impact-resistant roof coverings can reduce damage from hail and high winds. 

• Proper caulking around windows and doors helps prevent wind and water intrusion. 

• Clean gutters improve drainage and reduce the chance of water backing into the structure. 

• Surge protection can limit damage to sensitive electronics during lightning events or outages. 

• Outdoor furniture, signage, and loose equipment should be secured before storms arrive. 

• Fleets should be moved into garages or safer locations when possible. 

These steps may sound basic, but basics are often where resilience begins. Regular inspection and maintenance remain some of the most effective ways to reduce avoidable damage. 

Still, maintenance alone is not enough. Businesses should also consider: 

• More durable structural upgrades and stronger building standards. 

• Resilient roofing materials, fortified windows and doors. 

• Construction aligned with enhanced building codes. 

These investments may cost more upfront, but they can reduce future losses, shorten downtime, and improve insurability. 

A plan on paper is not the same as operational readiness

Business continuity planning is another area where organizations often overestimate readiness. Nationwide’s 2025 survey found that 95% of property stakeholders say they have a response plan in place in the event of severe weather damage. On the surface, that sounds encouraging. 

But response planning and risk management planning are not the same thing. Preparedness becomes real when plans are tested, roles are assigned, and assumptions are challenged. 

One of the clearest findings from Nationwide’s research is that many businesses are trying to manage rising costs by accepting more risk. Three-quarters of stakeholders said they are actively seeking ways to cut insurance costs, and more than a quarter acknowledged carrying inadequate coverage. 

That is an understandable response to market pressure. It is also a dangerous one. 

Insurance is not a resilience strategy by itself. But underinsurance can turn an already disruptive storm into a balance-sheet event. Coverage reviews should be tied to current property values, business interruption exposure, equipment dependencies, and updated weather risks by location. Businesses also need to understand where coverage gaps may exist and whether deductible structures align with their financial capacity. 

Resilience can be a competitive advantage

Severe convective storms are not just a weather story. They are a business performance story. 

They affect asset values, operating costs, workforce stability, supply chain reliability, and recovery time. They are frequent, expensive, and increasingly widespread.  

The companies that will be better positioned going forward are the ones that assume disruption will happen and prepare accordingly. 

That means inspecting and upgrading vulnerable structures. It means: 

• Protecting equipment and fleets 

• Stress-testing continuity plans 

• Reviewing insurance through the lens of real exposure 

• Using risk management resources before a loss occurs 

Nationwide Risk Management and Client Solutions has the expertise and resources to help businesses address the risks they face. A good first step is to develop a business continuity plan. This can help identify exposures and take action to mitigate the impact of adverse events. Organizations with continuity plans in place should review and update their plans regularly to ensure preparedness as the company evolves. 

Here are additional resources that can help businesses understand the weather threat and implement protection strategies: 

• How to plan for severe weather emergencies 

• Pre-incident planning checklist 

Businesses do not control the weather. But they do control how seriously they prepare for it. Now is the time to make severe convective storm resilience a core operating priority and tap available risk management tools to strengthen protection before the next event puts those decisions to the test.