Weathering the Storm: How to Protect Your Business from Natural Disasters

From devastating wildfires to record-breaking tornado outbreaks, extreme weather events are no longer rare—they’re expected. In 2024 alone, global economic losses from natural disasters were estimated at $368 billion, with insured losses reaching $154 billion—well above the historical averages. And 2025 is already off to a turbulent start, with over 100 tornadoes recorded in just the first quarter and costly wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles.

If you own or manage a business, especially in high-risk regions like Texas, it’s time to shift from reacting to planning ahead. At McKnight Insurance Services, we help business owners not only protect what they’ve built but also prepare for what’s coming.

Why Natural Disasters Are a Growing Concern for Businesses

According to recent research by The Hartford, 44% of business leaders list natural disasters as their top concern, and 59% are increasingly worried about business interruptions linked to extreme weather. And it’s not just hurricanes and wildfires—floods, winter freezes, and severe convective storms are impacting more geographies than ever before.

With climate patterns becoming more volatile, businesses must take a mitigation-first approach to extreme weather risks. This means going beyond response and recovery—building resilience into your operations.

Step 1: Start with a Mitigation-First Mindset

Whether your business is in construction, retail, professional services, or manufacturing, here are key mitigation strategies to implement immediately:

• Update employee safety protocols and regularly review your business continuity plan.
• Invest in structural upgrades like storm shutters, flood barriers, and backup generators.
• Store all key business data offsite and in the cloud to ensure availability in a disaster.
• Design supply chains with resilience in mind, including alternate vendors and delivery routes.
• Automate essential back-office functions such as payroll and HR to ensure operational continuity.

Mitigation isn’t just about preventing physical damage—it’s about keeping your business running when disaster strikes.

Step 2: Leverage Data to Build Resiliency

One of the most overlooked tools in extreme weather planning is data. By analyzing past claims, local hazard maps, operational data, and industry risk models, businesses can identify weak points and prioritize upgrades before they’re tested by a real-world event.

A data-driven resiliency strategy can help your business:

• Create accurate weather risk assessments tailored to your location and industry.
• Justify infrastructure investments that increase durability and reduce downtime.
• Partner with insurers who use advanced modeling to customize risk solutions.
• Improve your emergency response and recovery plans using proven insights.

Step 3: Balance Risk Mitigation with Adequate Insurance

Even the best preparation can’t eliminate all risk. That’s why a solid insurance strategy is critical. Natural disasters can cause not just property damage—but also equipment failure, supply chain disruption, and income loss. Without the right coverage, recovery can be slow, expensive, or even impossible.

Make sure your policy includes:

• Accurate valuation of buildings, contents, and machinery
• Business interruption coverage to protect lost income and operating expenses
• Protection against specific catastrophe perils such as named storms, wildfires, floods, and freeze events

At McKnight Insurance Services, we help businesses in Fort Worth and across Texas assess their exposure and tailor coverage to their unique risks. We don’t just sell policies—we help you design a holistic risk management strategy that balances mitigation with protection.

Resilience Starts Now

Extreme weather is no longer a question of if, but when. With global natural disaster costs on the rise and weather-related claims increasing every year, now is the time to take a proactive stance. Whether it’s strengthening your buildings, upgrading your systems, or reviewing your insurance, the goal is clear: protect your people, your assets, and your ability to operate—no matter what nature throws your way.