Dozens of tornadoes triggered heavy winds, rain, and lightning throughout the southern and southeastern regions of the United States last week, causing widespread property damage and killing at least 45 people.

The severe weather affected 14 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

Insurers are in the process of determining total damages, according to news reports.

"A natural disaster can be quite damaging to an organization and can result in economic loss, insured loss, and uninsured loss," noted Fletcher MacGregor, Global Natural Hazards and Emergency Response Practice Leader.

Businesses can obtain flood zone determinations as a tool to help understand their exposure and how their designation relates to coverage, sublimits, and deductibles that would apply at the time of a loss.

While a company cannot completely remove the threat of a flood, there are several low-cost mitigation techniques it can employ before, during, and after the flood that may help minimize the impact on business operations.

For real-time research and forecasts of natural catastrophes, please refer to Guy Carpenter's Cat Central bulletins.