Keep severe winter storm risks from putting a chill on business resilience

Whatever the season, severe weather events are becoming stronger, more unpredictable, and costlier. During 2024, Hurricane Helene brought devastating flooding far inland to western North Carolina, wildfires scorched the eastern U.S. states unaccustomed to such risks, and San Francisco experienced its first tornado warning in the city’s history. And weeks before the official start of winter, the eastern Great Lakes region was paralyzed by record-breaking snowfalls.

These and other severe weather events demonstrate why businesses need effective strategies to help protect against the complex threats of a changing climate, including increasingly severe cold-weather risks. From freeze-ups caused by freak “polar vortex” events to unprecedented snowfalls snarling highways and disrupting business operations, extreme winter weather can be hard on people, property, and profits.

However, businesses can take several steps prior to and during severe winter weather events to help mitigate potential impacts:

• During initial design and construction, be prepared to address potential gaps or weak points in the building envelope or infrastructure that could expose water lines to sub-freezing temperatures. In existing structures, consider retroactive steps to mitigate evolving risks.
• Cold-weather risk reduction should include temperature monitoring in remote or hard-to-access areas to identify trouble spots requiring emergency attention. 
• Ensure reliable backup power generation prior to the onset of cold weather. During severe blizzards or icing conditions, external grids can be interrupted for extended periods, resulting in loss of heat and increased risk potential.

Providing information to help businesses better understand and prepare for severe winter weather is why we created Zurich’s Winter Storm Resource Hub, where you will find helpful information and tips to address a wide range of cold-weather risks, including:

• Preparing for winter weather with a focus on protecting your people and property
• Weathering extremes of snow and cold through effective winter storm mitigation
• The critical importance of clearing heavy snow off roofs following a winter storm
• Developing a winter-weather playbook to build business resilience.

Discover insights that can help businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural hazards, including hurricanes, wildfires, convective storms, flooding, winter storms, and earthquakes, in the Natural Resource Hub.