Natural Disaster Recovery Support

What We Do

When natural disasters strike, the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA) is here to help your community plan its path to recovery. Our program can help your community restore parks, conserve natural areas, and expand access to the outdoors.

Your Partner in Natural Disaster Recovery

Since 1994, RTCA has partnered with federal, state, and local governments on natural disaster recovery through collaborative planning, community engagement, and resilient design.
RTCA can help your community:

• Engage residents to build a shared vision for recovery
• Plan and restore parks, trails, and outdoor spaces
• Design flood mitigation and vegetation strategies for disaster-affected sites
• Connect neighborhoods to parks and open spaces through trails, biking routes, and greenway networks
• Advance projects from planning to implementation by connecting communities with partners and funding

What Recovery Looks Like

Every community’s path to recovery is unique. These projects show how local partners and RTCA worked together to rebuild stronger parks for the future.

North Lake Charles

Connecting communities to nature and creating access to affordable and healthy foods in North Lake Charles, LA.

Cameron Parish, LA: Revisioning Project

After the hurricanes of 2020, NPS-RTCA developed outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism recommendations, in collaboration with FEMA.

DeRidder, LA: West Park Master Plan

Restoring and improving West Park in DeRidder, LA after the hurricanes of 2020.

Calcasieu Parish Facilities Inventory

A post-hurricane effort to create a unified, online guide to all park facilities across Calcasieu Parish for easy public access.

Bayou Greenbelt Master Plan

A bold vision to connect waterways, boost recreation, and enhance quality of life in Southwest Louisiana.

Glide Gateway and North Umpqua Corridor

Outdoor Recreation Conceptual Framework for Priority Projects

Conserva Culebra

Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, and Natural Disaster Resiliency Strategies for the Island of Culebra

Ciales Greenway

Ciales is transforming into a vibrant mountain destination—uniting outdoor adventure, resilience, and cultural pride in Puerto Rico.

Blue River Park: Wildfire Recovery Plan

Collaborating with the McKenzie Valley community and FEMA to restore Blue River Community Park after recent wildfires.

Eagle Rock Wildfire Recovery Plan

Planning the revitalization of Eagle Rock Park post-2020 fire, detailing history, issues, and redevelopment recommendations.

Climate Resiliency in New Orleans

Sankofa Wetland Park & Nature Trail