March 01 Small businesses have work to do if they expect to survive a fire, tornado or other catastrophe. Two thirds of small business owners don't have a formal disaster recovery plan, even though about half say it would take at least three months for their business to recover from a natural disaster, according to a Nationwide survey released Tuesday. "A very thorough recovery plan not only protects the business and business property, it protects their most important resources: their employees and employees often are family members," said Mark Anderson, associate vice president of commercial property claims for Nationwide. "What we want for these small businesses is that their business recovery should be as important and personal to them as their family safety and recovery plan," he said. The lack of preparedness comes as claims for the costs of such catastrophes have risen. The average claim Nationwide has handled since 2014 is nearly $20,000, 26 percent higher than over the prior seven years. That's mostly because construction and other costs have increased as the economy has improved. The insurer has handled more than 100,000 commercial catastrophe claims since 2007. The survey results were released ahead of the state's spring severe weather awareness week: March 19 25. Anderson said business owners' excuses for their lack of a plan are that it's not a high priority or the cost is too great. Formal plans can ensure everything from the safety of employees to having enough insurance coverage to keep a business in operation until it is back on its feet. Nationwide's survey, for example, found that 71 percent of those surveyed don't have insurance coverage for lost revenue during a recovery period. Studies have found that 25 percent of businesses never reopen after a major disaster. Business interruption insurance kept Burton Metal Finishing Inc.