Phoenix places second on safest-cities list

The Business Journal of Phoenix - January 3, 2006
by Mike Sunnucks
The Business Journal

The Valley ranks as the second-safest major metropolitan area in which to conduct business and avoid major natural disasters and terrorism.

A new survey by Risk & Insurance magazine and AIR Worldwide Corp. (a Boston-based consulting firm) ranked the safety of major U.S. metropolitan areas based on their susceptibility to major business disruptions such as weather disturbances, earthquakes and terrorism.

Sacramento, Calif. came in first, followed by Phoenix. Rounding out the top five were Rochester, N.Y.; Columbus, Ohio; and Buffalo, N.Y. The latter three all of which received substantial winter snowfalls, which is a new ranking element on the list this year.

San Diego was eighth on the list.

Phoenix area economic developers and business leaders have for years touted Arizona's lack of natural disasters and other major business disruptionsas a top reason for businesses to locate in the Valley and not California, Florida or colder climates.

Phoenix is also considered less of a target for terrorists than larger, more international cities such as New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and Chief Executive Barry Broome says that makes Arizona an attractive location for technology firms and data center operations that need to avoid interruptions.

We're fortunate to live and work here," said Broome. "The impact from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Southeast, as well as the interruptions from winter storms, position Arizona as an attractive place to do business."