Members of newly launched US-ARISE at Florida International University yesterday

13 October 2017 – Private sector representatives from key American companies met yesterday in Miami, Florida, to start a US network of a UN-backed global initiative to create greater understanding of disaster risk in the business community, to safeguard future investments and reduce economic losses from disasters.

Hosted by the Extreme Events Institute at Florida International University, ARISE-US was launched with a significant presence from the construction and insurance industries. Among those present were representatives from AECOM, RMS, FM Global, CH2M, Titan America and DRI.

A key mover behind the initiative is former Titan America CEO, author and 9/11 survivor, Mr. Aris Papadopoulos, who said: “The number of multi-billion dollar disasters has increased dramatically in the United States in recent months. This must be a cause of deep concern to the business community as many of these events can be prevented if we invest wisely in strategies which reduce disaster risk.

“There is nothing natural about these disasters. The built environment is often not fit for purpose to withstand natural hazards such as floods, storms, earthquakes and wildfires. A lot can be achieved if we improve and implement land use and building codes. We need to sensitise the consumer and the business community to these realities.”

The newly elected Chair of ARISE-US, Mr. Dale Sands, Senior Vice President with the CH2M engineering firm, said: “ARISE-USA supports implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the global plan to reduce disaster losses adopted two years ago by UN Member States. The Sendai Framework recognizes the key role of the private sector in building resilience and reducing damage to critical infrastructure.”