2017 Set Record for Losses from Natural Disasters: Insurers are set to pay out a record $135 billion to cover losses from natural disasters.
As ERMI has coached in the past, Natural Disaster Seasons (NDS, i.e. Flooding, Tornados, Forest Fires, Hurricanes, earthquakes…) are a great time to talk pollution. Did you know most pollution policies do not exclude Acts of God.
During NDS, national and local media are lighting up the airways / internet highway with all the pollution problems caused by natural disasters. You hear about storage tanks releasing their contents as debris crashes into them during flood season. Pollutants spread out over miles from tornados or hurricanes. Forest Fires engulfing communities and causing explosions that release pollutants in the air and the list goes on.
Note: Pollution losses tend to be a severity versus frequency issue.
The Prospects you want to strategize with on the value pollution insurance adds to their business model during NDS are those that feel they do not have a pollution exposure. For this example, let’s use real estate owners. For sake of avoiding an argument, agree with the real estate owners they do not have a pollution exposure, but then ask, what if a natural disaster deposits pollutants onto your real estate?
Note: Under federal law, the real estate owner is ultimately responsible for the environmental condition of their property.
It may not be until years later when the real estate owner goes to sell their property and an environmental site assessment unveils an environmental problem from pollutants deposited during NDS. Whose responsible?
Since every business is impacted by environmental exposures, it’s now part of “Best Practices” for businesses to have a financial assurance strategy in place to address their exposure to environmental liabilities caused by Natural Disasters.
As your team member for all things environmental, let ERMI know how we can assist you to drive your sales during NDS.