In the wake of two record-setting years in damages and casualties wrought by natural disasters, 2012 is following a similar trend with a slew of powerful weather incidents already causing death and destruction throughout the United States.

According to a press release, the world’s leading reinsurance intermediary and full-service capital advisor Aon Benfield released an updated edition of its Global Catastrophe Recap report on April 5.

Published by Aon Benfield subsidiary Impact Forecasting, at least 41 citizens were killed in regions ranging from the Midwest to the Tennessee Valley and the Southeast during severe weather incidents that took place in the first week of March.

Moreover, the reports mentions that more than 200 homes were damaged in Dexter, Michigan, during a tornado that struck in mid-March resulting in fiscal losses amounting to nearly $300 million.

An unrelated storm system was also reported to have generated an additional 46 tornadoes in the Plains, Midwest and Southeast.

"Following an active 2011 U.S. severe weather season, the first quarter of 2012 has also proven itself to be markedly busy," said Steve Jakubowski, president of Impact Forecasting in the release. "Through the first three months of 2012, we have already sustained more than [$]1.8 billion in insured losses from convective storm events as we enter the climatologically most active severe weather months of the year."

Consequently, it is more important than ever for businesses and municipalities across the country to update their business continuity plan with the assistance of experienced continuity consultants.

By attending the World Conference on Disaster Management, taking place on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, officials can attain valuable assistance from these professionals in securing hot sites, undertaking table top preparedness exercises and facilitating other crucial disaster recovery initiatives.