Viewpoint: Storm Resilience Must Account for the Assets That Do Not Stay Put

Hurricanes, wildfires and other major weather events often dominate attention, but severe convective storms remain one of the most frequent and costly weather threats facing businesses. In 2025, there were a total of 23 billion-dollar disasters; 21 were severe storms. National data also shows the average cost of these storms trending higher. Last year, the average five-year damage cost stood at $40.9 billion versus $22.5 billion (adjusted for inflation) just 10 years earlier.

Most commercial insurance agents and their clients recognize the threat – Nationwide’s research shows two-thirds of commercial property owners are highly concerned about severe weather – but many still overlook the importance of inland marine coverage in resilience planning. Too often, storm preparedness discussions focus almost exclusively on the permanent structure. Those conversations are important, but only address part of the exposure.

For agents, this creates a practical opportunity to help clients think beyond the building and evaluate how storms could affect critical equipment, materials, operations and recovery. This is especially important for businesses that rely on property that is transported, stored temporarily or housed off-site.

Here are five ways agents can bring inland marine considerations to light in client conversations:

Reframe severe convective storms as a recurring business risk

Many clients still view severe storms as seasonal or infrequent events rather than a consistent source of risk. Agents can help reframe that exposure. Since 2020, severe storms have accounted for roughly two-thirds of billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S. That means clients don’t need a headline-making catastrophe to face meaningful loss. Hail, straight-line wind, lightning, flooding and tornadoes are multi-faceted threats that can occur in a single storm and delay projects, interrupt operations and increase pressure on insurance programs.

Pressure-test where commercial property ends and inland marine begins

For many clients, the storm conversation should go beyond general property exposures and focus on where coverage responsibility shifts to inland marine. Agents can add value by mapping how property moves through the client’s operation: from storage yard to truck, from transit to job site, from temporary staging area to installation. This can help surface exposures that may sit outside the four walls, including contractors equipment, materials in transit, installation projects and builders risk property stored temporarily awaiting installation. In a severe weather event, these assets are often more vulnerable than the completed structure itself, as they may be exposed to hail, wind, flood, flying debris or theft following a storm. Bringing inland marine into the conversation early helps ensure the insurance strategy reflects how the business actually operates and where storm-related loss is most likely to occur.

Use coverage reviews to close the readiness gap

Business owners’ concern for severe weather doesn’t always translate to adequate protection. Our research found a quarter of commercial property owners knowingly carry inadequate coverage and 42% would consider reducing coverage to lower premiums. Agents can use renewal conversations to review current property values, equipment dependencies, business interruption exposure and off-premises property risk. The goal is not just to confirm limits, but to surface gaps before a storm does. As the threat of extreme weather grows and replacement costs increase, coverage for this risk needs to keep pace.

Connect resilience planning to day-to-day operations

The strongest storm planning reflects how businesses actually work. Agents can encourage clients to think through where equipment is stored, how materials move, which projects depend on temporary locations and what would happen if a storm interrupted any of those points. Risk management strategies should be part of that discussion. For example, critical building materials and equipment awaiting installation can often be staged indoors when severe weather is forecast. Contractors can establish procedures to monitor weather conditions before transporting high-value property, relocate equipment from flood-prone areas, and secure materials against wind damage. These practical measures complement insurance protection and can significantly reduce the severity of losses when severe storms occur. That makes inland marine part of a broader resilience strategy, alongside physical protections, continuity planning and loss control.

For many businesses, severe storm resilience extends beyond protecting the building to safeguarding the property and equipment that moves with the work. Agents who bring inland marine into the conversation can help clients build a more realistic and more durable view of risk.

Topics
Windstorm