• Arup staff donated over $27,000 for Superstorm Sandy relief with matching contributions from Arup.
• Arup staff member Jim Cohen served as the co-head of a pro-bono task force through ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) that investigated the effects of Superstorm Sandy on the urban environment and how design might be improved to mitigate future similar disasters.

In late 2012, Superstorm Sandy left widespread damage throughout the United States Northeast and Atlantic coast.  The storm caused severe wind and flood damage throughout the Northeast affecting many people along with Arup staff and temporarily closing the New York office.  Arup Americas Community Engagement implemented a salary matching program to provide aid to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Arup staff donated over $27,000 for Superstorm Sandy relief with matching contributions from Arup.

Superstorm Sandy will have long-lasting ramifications for the residents of the New York City metropolitan area. The hurricane brought with it a 14-foot storm surge that exposed the lack of resilience many cities have against these natural disasters. Both history and climate change science tell us this will happen again.

Out of Sandy comes an opportunity to plan our future. Cities at risk will need resilient infrastructure master-planning frameworks to identify the appropriate solutions. Protection of critical infrastructure that allows our society to function is imperative, including electrical substations, transportation tunnels, waste water treatment plants, etc.  Combating storm surges that rise up to 14-ft will require a multitude of solutions, including some large-scale ‘hard’ infrastructure investments, restoration of eco-system services, green infrastructure and resilient urban planning.   Arup continues to be involved in the efforts to ensure resiliency for New York City.

Arup provided pro bono assistance on an ASCE-SEI sponsored reconnaissance of damage in lower Manhattan due to Hurricane Sandy. Arup staff member Jim Cohen served as the co-head of a task force through ASCE that investigated the effects of Superstorm Sandy on the urban environment and how design might be improved to mitigate future similar disasters. The objective was to investigate and document the performance of several different types and occupancies of buildings located in New York City that were affected by the storm surge and flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy. The results of this study can be extended to other structural types. The requirements defined in ASCE 24 (Flood Resistant Design and Construction) were reviewed and improvements were suggested in order to reduce future damage in similar urban environments.

Arup continues to be involved in the efforts to ensure resiliency for New York City. Jon Hurt, Arup, USA