Page 110 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2026

A CHANGETIDE IN THE
COMMERCIAL INSURANCE
ON THE COAST
Construction is underway on properties that have been vacant since Hurricane Katrina—and elsewhere—and that’s good news for Coast business. People in the insurance and development business say the cost and impact of commercial insurance in Coast counties is not the negative story it once was. Many factors play into the equation for cost, including type of construction, location, no major storms in recent years and wetlands and other environmental issues.
“Commercial insurance is pretty robust with plenty of capacity in the state now,” said Andy Case, director of Property & Casualty Rating for the Mississippi Department of Insurance. “Companies feel they can operate in a fair and competitive environment here. We see plenty of carriers willing to write commercial insurance.”
Tom Sawyer, who’s been in the insurance business 53 years, says, “It’s amazing right now. We haven’t had a hurricane
in a few years and there are a lot of players in the market. Commercial insurance seems to be at a good point.”
A senior accountant with Brown & Brown, Sawyer even sees businesses getting reductions of 25 to 50 percent on wind storm
110 | August 2026
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
story by Lynn Lofton
coverage from last year. “That’s a drastic reduction depending on the type of construction,” he said.
He feels that it’s all about construction. “We’re seeing some active commercial building now with high tech, wind restrictive roofs, steel studs and concrete to get as much wood out as possible,” he said.
Jesse Sunderman, commercial risk advisor with Lemon Mohler, said, “Generally speaking, rates on the Coast will be higher than the rest of the state for property coverage. With that being said, property rates along the Coast have fallen significantly since the end of 2025. We have been able to work with clients this year
on ‘buying back’ coverages that were unaffordable two to three years ago.”
He sees that business owners have more options available to them in the soft market versus a hard market. “This gives owners the chance to purchase necessary coverages like wind and hail at an affordable rate. Also, clients who were stuck in the wind pool are able to get out and back to a potentially admitted carrier.”
Sunderman agrees with Sawyer that the lack of major storms in the Gulf is a significant factor in the decreased rates. “Also,