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 [Environment](/categories/environment)

 # How to Break the Cycle of "Disaster, Rebuild, Repeat"

 

##### By: Gary Lawrence, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at AECOM

 

 

 May 15, 2014 10:00 AM ET

  Campaign:  [Thought Leadership](/news/campaign/thought-leadership)  ![](https://3blcdn.com/styles/carousel_2x/s3/2026-08/Gary_Lawrence-thought_leadership-BW-690_1786917873_2.jpg "Gary Lawrence, AECOM vice president and chief sustainability officer, discusses the weather-related disasters that have personally affected him.")

 Gary Lawrence, AECOM vice president and chief sustainability officer, discusses the weather-related disasters that have personally affected him. 

 

The tragic mudslide that occurred on March 22 in the small 180-person town of Oso, Washington, is the second weather-related disaster in the space of 16 months that has touched me personally.

In the early part of my career, I was Deputy County Executive of Snohomish County in Washington state, a county government hitherto unknown to anyone outside the immediate area, the commercial aviation industry, loggers, and recreational Steelhead fishermen.

**For Gary's perspective on how to mitigate the consequences of weather-related disasters such as the mudslide in Oso, check out his latest *[Environmental Leader](http://www.environmentalleader.com/2014/04/03/how-to-break-the-cycle-of-disaster-rebuild-repeat/)* article.**

**About AECOM**  
AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water and government. With approximately 45,000 employees around the world, AECOM is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering solutions that create, enhance and sustain the world's built, natural, and social environments. A *Fortune 500* company, AECOM serves clients in more than 150 countries and had revenue of $8.0 billion during the 12 months ended March 31, 2014. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at [www.aecom.com](http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aecom.com&esheet=50860501&newsitemid=20140508005156&lan=en-US&anchor=www.aecom.com&index=2&md5=409c70a48784c9bb20dd7008c463fb63).

Media:  
AECOM Technology Corporation  
Ed Mayer, +1.732.564.3380  
Director, Corporate Communications  
<Ed.Mayer@aecom.com>



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [![](/sites/default/files/Clients/AECOM_color.jpg)](/profiles/aecom)

 

 

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