Natural Disasters: How to Protect Your Property Year-Round

Natural disasters can cause immense damage, devastating individual properties and entire communities in a single catastrophic event. While an earthquake, hurricane, flood, or tornado can destroy any property, damage to commercial properties can affect more than the structure; it can affect business and impact the lives of all those who work and rely on that company.

However, with proper planning, commercial property owners can minimize the impact of natural disasters and begin recovery efforts right away.

ATI Restoration offers a full suite of catastrophe recovery services to help your business recover after any natural or man-made disaster. We take pride in not only restoring commercial properties to their pre-loss conditions (or even better), but giving our customers peace of mind. We have the capabilities and experience needed to minimize business interruptions and help you get back to normal right away.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help your business prepare for natural disasters.

Step 1: Understand Regional Risks

To protect your commercial property, start by conducting a thorough risk assessment. First, identify the natural disasters that are most likely to affect your area and consider their potential impact on your property.

Some of the most common natural disasters include:

Earthquakes

According to the World Atlas, the most earthquake-prone states are:

1. Alaska
2. California
3. Oklahoma
4. Nevada
5. Wyoming

Other states that are most often affected by earthquakes include Hawaii, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, and Texas.

Floods

Floods are the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States, responsible for damaging inland areas and coastal communities alike. While flooding can occur anywhere in the country, Gulf Coast states are hit the hardest and most frequently compared to others.

Hurricanes and Typhoons

The official Atlantic Ocean hurricane season occurs between June 1 and November 30. Hurricanes historically account for the costliest floods, mostly affecting the Gulf states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

The five largest payouts in the history of the National Flood Insurance Program (inflation-adjusted) are:

1. Hurricane Katrina: $22.17 Billion
2. Superstorm Sandy: $10.05 Billion
3. Hurricane Harvey: $10.03 Billion
4. Hurricane Ike: $3.32 Billion
5. Louisiana severe storms and flooding (2016): $2.83 Billion

Other notable NFIP hurricane payouts include Hurricane Ivan ($2.4B), Hurricane Jeanne ($2.15B), Hurricane Ida ($1.64B), Hurricane Irene ($1.58B), and Hurricane Irma ($1.26B).

Tornadoes

Nearly every state in the U.S. is susceptible to tornadoes, which form when warm, humid, ground-level air meets cooler dry air in the sky in an unstable updraft. Only Alaska and Hawaii have not had tornadoes in the past five years.

Tornado Alley

Although there is no official designation, the region known as Tornado Alley historically comprises the area between South Dakota and Texas. However, as time has passed and tornado data has evolved, AccuWeather currently defines tornado alley as:

• Northern Texas
• Oklahoma
• Kansas
• Missouri
• Louisiana
• Iowa
• Nebraska
• Eastern Colorado

Dixie Alley

Over the past decade, researchers have identified a decrease in tornadoes throughout Tornado Alley and an increase in Dixie Alley, which includes parts of:

• Eastern Texas
• Louisiana
• Alabama
• Mississippi

While the areas most affected by tornadoes can differ slightly from year to year, it’s important to understand that tornadoes can happen anywhere and affect people in nearly any state in the nation.

Wildfires

Wildfires are dangerous and destructive events, responsible for up to $147.5 billion in property damage each year. Generally due to hot climates and strong winds, the top five states with the most wildfires (2022) include:

1. Texas: 12,571 fires, 671,800 acres burned
2. California: 7,884 fires, 309,287 acres burned
3. North Carolina: 6,222 fires, 28,851 acres burned
4. Georgia: 3,621 fires, 25,017 acres burned
5. Oklahoma: 2,811 fires, 385,133 acres burned

No state or geographic region is immune to fires. No matter where your business is located, it is important to understand the potential risk of these devastating events.

Step 2: Evaluate Your Vulnerabilities

Evaluating the vulnerabilities of your commercial property is a crucial step in mitigating the risks posed by natural disasters. This process involves a comprehensive assessment of several key factors, including the structural integrity of your building, the location of critical systems, and the proximity to potential hazards. To assess your commercial property’s vulnerabilities:

• Assess structural integrity: Inspect the foundation, walls, roof, and windows for weaknesses, and hire a structural engineer for a thorough evaluation and reinforcement recommendations.
• Locate critical systems: Evaluate the placement of electrical panels, HVAC units, and plumbing systems; consider relocating or protecting these systems from hazards like flooding or high winds.
• Identify the proximity to potential hazards: Identify nearby risks such as flood zones and wildfire-prone areas using local data, and implement targeted mitigation strategies based on these findings.
• Consider other factors: Assess other specific vulnerabilities, like outdated building materials or large glass surfaces, and ensure clear and safe evacuation routes for emergency responders and occupants.

Step 3: Ensure You Have Adequate Insurance Coverage

Having adequate insurance coverage is a critical aspect of protecting your commercial property from natural disasters. Here are some tips to ensure you have the right coverage:

1. Review your policy: Regularly review your insurance policy to ensure it provides adequate coverage for the types of natural disasters that are likely to affect your area.
2. Understand exclusions: Be aware of any exclusions in your policy and consider purchasing additional coverage if necessary. For example, standard property insurance policies often do not cover flood or earthquake damage.
3. Consider business interruption insurance: This type of insurance can help cover lost income and operating expenses if your business is forced to close temporarily due to a natural disaster.

Step 4: Secure an Emergency Response Agreement with ATI Restoration

The longer you wait to start the restoration and reconstruction process after a natural disaster, the longer it will take to get back to business. Postponing essential work may also lead to additional damages that compound repairs and expenses.

With an Emergency Response Agreement (ERA) with ATI Restoration, you are guaranteed priority service. As a leading restoration and reconstruction company, we often receive numerous calls in the wake of a disaster, but your company will be our priority, and restoring your property will be our top concern.

ATI Restoration offers the full spectrum of disaster recovery services for commercial properties, including:

• Tropical Storms & Hurricanes
• Wildfires
• Earthquakes
• Fire & Smoke Damage
• Water Damage Services
• Reconstruction Services
• Structural Repairs

ATI Restoration takes pride in being a seamless partner in disaster recovery. Before entering a vendor relationship, our team members will work closely with your company’s stakeholders to get a clear picture of your needs, challenges, and existing disaster recovery plan.

The Emergency Response Agreement is 100% transparent. You will know exactly what services are offered and the rates you can expect before you sign the contract. This gives you the ability to plan and budget for catastrophe recovery services appropriately.

With ATI Restoration, You’re Ready for Anything

You can’t control natural disasters, but you can control your preparedness for unexpected events. To learn more about securing an Emergency Response Agreement with ATI Restoration, contact us today.

Our teams are standing by 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to address your needs. When disaster strikes, you can feel confident that ATI Restoration will be there.