When Nature Rages: Which 6 Natural Disasters Can Bring a Business to Its Knees?
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Natural disasters are catastrophic for businesses, not just because of the destructive force, but their sudden and unexpected arrival leaves firms with little opportunity to protect their assets. Natural disasters affect some geographic locations more than others, but wherever you are, it pays to take precautions when it comes to natural forces that could ravage your business.
The best way to protect your company when natural disaster strikes, is by ensuring you have your business information backed up in a separate location, you have adequate insurance, and if you are making a claim, you have a public adjuster who will be on your side when it comes to settling the claim. Companies like Globe Midwest Adjusters International offer comprehensive services for those making a claim after a natural disaster.
These are the natural disasters you need to protect your business against.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are among the most destructive disasters for businesses because of their unpredictability. Science has still not found a comprehensive way to predict earthquakes effectively, which is why the loss of life is often catastrophic as areas are rarely evacuated before they hit.
Secure items in your business that could topple in the event of an earthquake, particularly if your business is located in a region that sits on geographical fault lines. Also, ensure your insurance policy contains earthquake cover to protect your business assets.
Flooding
As weather patterns become more unpredictable, the number of areas affected by flooding is increasing. All it takes is a larger than average rainfall to saturate the ground and prevent adequate drainage. Then there is a significant flood risk.
Flood protection does not come as standard in most insurance policies, so it is worth checking with your provider to ensure you are covered in the event of a flood. Also, keep your drainage systems and gutters clear to minimise your damage during periods of heavy rainfall.
Fire
Even the slightest spark or electrical malfunction can cause a fire to break out. Manufacturing properties are particularly at risk, but any business can fall victim to an electrical fire, arson, or wildfires.
The damage incurred is often huge, and many businesses do not recover. A single warehouse fire will cause an average of $128,099 in property damage. Without adequate insurance protection, few companies can recover from that kind of damage.
Tornadoes
Although limited to specific regions of the United States, when tornadoes strike, the results are devastating. Aside from checking your insurance policy for tornado cover, if you live in a region prone to tornadoes, you should ensure your building has the structural integrity to withstand high winds and heavy rain.
Hurricanes
The hurricane season in the US lasts from mid-summer, until early winter, and previous hurricanes have shown that it pays to be prepared. Often business owners will have a small window of time to prepare their business for a hurricane. Meteorologists have become exceptionally accurate in their predictions for hurricanes.
Still, despite the warning, hurricanes can wreak havoc on a business, particularly if there is damage to the foundations of the property or there are hanging branches near your property.
Snow Storms
Winter storms don’t just damage a business’s physical assets, they also cause a vast loss of earnings due to unnavigable roads and logistical failings. When the snow begins to melt, it can also lead to flooding and water damage. This is why it is imperative your business has flooding insurance, even if the summer months don’t yield much rainfall. It could just as easily occur in the winter.
When you are planning for the future, don’t forget to think about the damages natural disasters could inflict on your business. Taking appropriate measures to safeguard against the worst-case scenarios could mean the difference between your business recovering from a natural disaster, and it closing its shutters for good.
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