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The biggest thunderstorm-related concern for infrastructure is flooding, as heavy rain and flooding are considered a huge threat to virtually all infrastructure.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research scientist Harold Brooks noted that tornado activity has increased by about 10% in the Mid-South while declining by roughly the same amount from the Texas Panhandle through western Kansas. Additionally, population densities in rural areas of the Southeast are roughly 100 times those in the High Plains, meaning tornadoes in areas like northern Mississippi and Alabama are more likely to impact people and buildings.

Verisk is assessing risks to renewable projects in tornado- and hail-prone areas, where large hail can cause major damage to solar farms, creating a vulnerable asset class. Data-center developers face the challenge of balancing natural-hazard exposure against the need for land, power, and water, with some sites containing billions of dollars in property and hardware.

Jay Guin states that growing exposure is the dominant driver of rising insured losses, as more and increasingly valuable property is being built in harm's way. While he acknowledges climate change contributes, he notes that expanding development and higher reconstruction costs are much larger drivers.

The United States accounts for $117 billion, which represents 68% of Verisk's modeled global insured catastrophe losses.

Severe thunderstorms account for 40% of modeled global insured catastrophe risk, while hurricanes account for 27% of that risk.