Survey Reveals Growing Concerns Among Commercial Property Stakeholders

A recent survey by Nationwide underscores the growing concern among commercial property stakeholders about severe weather events and natural disasters. These concerns are anticipated to persist over the next five years. The survey, which included property owners, new construction builders, and business owners, revealed that approximately 66% of respondents are significantly worried about risks such as heatwaves, floods, and damaging winds. The implications of these events extend to business interruptions, flood damage, and structural impacts.

There are notable regional disparities in risk perception. For regions susceptible to hurricanes, stakeholders exhibit heightened concern about structural damage and window breakage. Conversely, states prone to severe convective storms are more cognizant of roof damage and the impacts of ice storms and cold snaps. Despite these apprehensions, fewer than half of the commercial property owners feel prepared for these environmental challenges.

In addressing these risks, stakeholders are prioritizing the enhancement of their buildings' resilience. This involves physical upgrades to mitigate damage and ensure operational continuity. Additionally, businesses are reassessing their insurance policies to align coverage with potential significant losses. The focus on regulatory compliance requirements remains critical as companies navigate these evolving challenges.

A nuanced perspective emerges on the adequacy of insurance coverage. While more than 80% of property stakeholders feel their coverage for weather-related losses is adequate, only 39% believe their protection is comprehensive. Insurance costs exert a significant influence on coverage decisions, prompting most property owners to seek advice from insurance professionals. Developing effective risk management strategies is essential as climate risks continue to change.

Leveraging Technology for Risk Mitigation

The emphasis on mitigating risks provides an opportunity to harness technology, though a gap exists in employing available tools for loss prediction and prevention. A substantial majority of respondents express a desire for more commercial-grade monitoring and protection technologies, akin to those offered for residential properties. Many insurance carriers already provide advanced solutions and incentives for adopting such technologies.

Jason Ragsdale, Nationwide’s Risk Management Technical Specialization leader, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy. "Businesses have made meaningful investments to strengthen their properties," he states. “But resilience goes beyond the building itself. It requires a holistic approach involving risk mitigation, continuity planning, and comprehensive insurance coverage reflective of today’s evolving risks.” The survey, conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence (DXI) for Nationwide, included responses from 300 commercial property stakeholders nationwide between January 24 and February 13, 2026.