Hailstorms can be swift and destructive, damaging buildings, outdoor equipment and vehicles in a matter of minutes. For commercial property owners, hail damage can result in destroyed property, costly repairs, business disruptions and lost revenue.
Potential Risks
Data analytics firm Verisk’s 2021 Hail Hazard and Its Impact on Property Insurance report found that 6.2 million properties in the United States experienced one or more damaging hail events in 2020, resulting in almost $14.2 billion in losses. Businesses located in areas that experience hailstorms may be susceptible to severe damage to equipment and components, including:
- Roofs
- Windows
- Rooftop heating; ventilation and air conditioning equipment
- Cooling towers
- Exposed glass and plastic components of outdoor equiment
- Vehicles
Repairing a building damaged by hail can cost a lot of time and money. Severe building damage can even result in business disruptions—such as shutdowns or limited operations—that lead to a loss of revenue or harm a business’s reputation among stakeholders and customers.
Preventative Measures
To limit the potential damage of hailstorms, commercial property owners should be proactive in protecting their buildings. They can take the following measures to protect their properties:
- Conduct regular roof inspections. Be sure to replace any worn or weak areas, as their condition may be made worse from a hailstorm. Installing “severe hail” or “Class 4” impact-resistant roof materials can also limit the amount of damage done by hail.
- Utilize rooftop equipment and protections designed to withstand hail. Install hail guards, shields and wire mesh to keep rooftop equipment safeguarded from hail.
- Install windows with impact-resistant glass. Protect windows against hail by using impact-resistant glass, which is less likely to shatter than regular glass.
- Watch the weather. Be aware of the local forecast so valuables and equipment can be moved to safe locations before severe weather hits.
By taking the time to implement preventive measures, commercial property owners can reduce the impact of hailstorms on their buildings. For more ways to help prevent commercial property damage, contact INSURICA today.
This is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. © 2023 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Share This Story
Related Blogs
Fiduciary Responsibilities for Employer Health Plans: What Employers Should Know Now
When employers think about fiduciary responsibility, retirement plans often come to mind first. But recent developments make it clear that fiduciary duties also matter—sometimes significantly—when it comes to employer-sponsored health and welfare plans.
The New Era of Mental Health Parity Enforcement in 2026
Federal agencies have made mental health parity enforcement a top priority in 2026, and employers sponsoring group health plans are feeling the impact. Regulators are no longer satisfied with high‑level assurances that plans comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Instead, they expect detailed, data‑driven documentation showing that mental health and substance‑use‑disorder benefits are truly comparable to medical and surgical benefits. This includes not only the written plan design but also how rules are applied in real‑world scenarios.
The 2026 Specialty Drug Surge: What Employers Need to Prepare For
Specialty drugs have been a major cost driver for years, but 2026 marks a significant shift in both scale and urgency. With GLP 1 medications expanding into new indications, gene therapies entering the market at record pace, and oncology drugs continuing to rise in both cost and utilization, specialty medications are projected to account for more than 60% of total pharmacy spending this year. That’s a dramatic change for employers, especially considering that specialty drugs represent fewer than 5% of total prescriptions.