Hurricane Debby left downtowns from Savannah, Georgia to Annapolis, Maryland under water as it came ashore and stayed like an unwanted relative who won’t leave your home after a couple of days stretched into a couple of weeks.

Severe weather season is underway and forecasts indicate a more intense hurricane season this year. To address the most common severe weather questions, we spoke with experts from Church Mutual, President – Subsidiaries and Chief Underwriting Officer Pam Rushing and Assistant Vice President – Risk Control Eric Spacek. 

Q: Hurricanes and other storms often produce flooding. But is flooding covered under a typical commercial insurance policy? 

Rushing: Flood coverage is not typically included in a commercial insurance policy. Although you might be able to purchase flood insurance from your carrier or add it to your policy, many managers do not. If you do not have flood coverage in your existing policy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is your go-to for flooding. You can find more information about that here. For everything else storm-damage related, contact your insurance provider. Review your policy regularly to know what is covered by your insurance, and to make sure you have adequate coverage.

Q: What’s the first step toward severe weather preparedness as a nonprofit leader? 

Spacek: Know the risk and have a severe weather emergency preparedness and response plan in place. You should also reach out to local response agencies to partner with you in organizational planning. Provide them with facility maps, contact information and copies of your plan, so they can provide effective support. 

Q: As you are developing a severe weather preparedness and response plan, what are some important considerations? 

Spacek: Wind is among the most damaging forces of nature. Make your property more wind resistant by adding precautionary measures such as roof tie-downs, a wind-rated garage door and storm shutters. Have your roof inspected annually by a licensed contractor to make sure it will withstand high wind and heavy rain. Also, secure any outdoor items so they can’t become airborne. 

Q: What is one important step in severe weather preparedness that often gets forgotten or is surprising?

Rushing: Keep your organization’s contact information up to date with your insurance provider. Every organization has turnover and calling your insurance provider when turnover occurs helps them serve you better, especially if they need to contact you before, during or after a weather event.

Q: With storm season already underway, what can nonprofit organizations do today to prepare for the next storm?

Spacek: I cannot emphasize enough the need to be proactive in your severe weather readiness. Are facility repairs needed? When was the last time you had the roof inspected? Does your facility have older, and possibly outdated, backup generators, water pumps or HVAC systems? Keep in mind, a storm is not always a single event. Severe weather such as a hurricane can be followed by convective storms with wind and hail, flooding, power outages and other forms of disruption. The best time to prepare for severe weather is right now, because that next storm is probably coming soon.

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