disaster recovery

Aerial of two homes under reconstruction in fire-damaged area of Altadena, California with mountains in background.

Almost 40% of LA fire survivors face a housing crisis

Many Angelenos who lost their homes in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires have already run out of temporary housing funds.

May 8, 2026 - Los Angeles Times

Two young Black girls outdoors using red plastic cup to pour water into tube for measurement or testing.

Seven Brilliant Projects Keeping New Orleans Safe from Stormwater

20 years post Katrina, New Orleans has shored up and reinvented itself to absorb millions upon millions of gallons of stormwater. Their success holds lessons for landscape architects all over the world.

November 7, 2025 - April Economides

Headshot of Torey Carter-Conneen and Kona Gray standing together.

In a Warmer, Wetter and More Disaster-prone World: “Nature is the Greatest Designer”

A conversation with the American Society of Landscape Architects’ CEO Torey Carter-Conneen and board president Kona Gray.

October 3, 2025 - April Economides

Aerial view of Lahainaluna neighborhood with smoke from fires in Maui, Hawaii.

Maui Wildfire Recovery, Two Years On

Two years after the Lahaina and Kula wildfires, hundreds of homes are under construction and community resilience is strong, though many survivors remain displaced and long to return home.

August 29, 2025 - Maui Now

Heavy smoke from Palisades Fire burning in hillsides with homes with downtown Los Angeles visible in background.

Palisades Homeowners Barred From Rebuilding With Duplexes

The California governor and L.A. mayor issued identical executive orders banning multi-family development in areas destroyed by the Palisades Fire.

August 6, 2025 - Reason

Aerial view of flooding during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

‘Quality Work, Fast’: NC Gears up for Homebuilding After Helene, Trying to Avoid Past Pitfalls

The state will field bids to demolish, repair and rebuild homes in the mountains. After struggles in eastern NC, officials aim to chart a different course.

May 2, 2025 - NC Newsline

Aerial view of neighborhood under construction with houses and vacant lots.

Report Outlines Strategies for Resilient Wildfire Recovery in LA

Project Recovery offers a roadmap for rebuilding more sustainable and climate-resilient communities after wildfires and other disasters.

March 26, 2025 - Urban Land Institute

Group of people being led in yoga by two instructors on large public lawn.

The Panacea of Outdoor Human Movement

Humans relish in over-complicating things, but the sweetest and healthiest things in life are the simplest.

March 20, 2025 - April Economides

Red and yellow surfboards leaning against fence in Maui, Hawaii.

Surf’s Upcycling: Hawai‘i’s Latest Green Building Material is Recycled Surf Boards

“Surf Blocks” are fire-resistant, termite-proof, and close the loop on mountains of waste from the state’s beloved sport.

March 19, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Woman and child ride bike past war-destroyed buildings in Borodyanka, Ukraine.

From Crisis to Opportunity in Ukraine

Rebuilding in ways that are more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable in the face of ongoing conflict.

March 19, 2025 - Mikael Colville-Andersen

Burned car and home in Los Angeles after 2019 wildfire.

The Unseen Aftermath: Wildfires’ Lasting Health and Emotional Burden

Wildfires in Los Angeles not only pose immediate physical health risks but also lead to long-term respiratory problems and mental health struggles, underscoring the need for a coordinated public health response to mitigate their lasting effects.

March 16, 2025 - UCLA Health

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9, 2025 - Pasadena NOw

Wildfire recovery area with small trees growing in burn areas in Angeles National Forest in California.

Resilient Communities, Healthy Ecosystems: A Balanced Approach to Wildfires

Effective wildfire mitigation in California requires a holistic approach that goes beyond large-scale vegetation removal, emphasizing home hardening, defensible space, strategic planning, and reducing human-caused ignitions.

February 16, 2025 - UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge

List of various international languages with text in English and original language.

Language Matters: Addressing Communication Gaps in Disaster Response

A UCLA study reveals that language barriers left many Asian residents in Los Angeles County without critical wildfire evacuation and recovery information, highlighting the need for more inclusive emergency communication strategies.

February 10, 2025 - Los Angeles Times

Street with two-story buildings in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.

Population and Economic Shifts in the Wake of the Maui Wildfires

The 2023 Maui wildfires have caused significant out-migration, reduced in-migration, and substantial economic losses, reshaping the island’s population and straining its recovery efforts.

February 6, 2025 - University of Hawai'i News

Homes in Altadena, California with mountains in background on a sunny day.

Altadena’s Resilience: Restoring a Fire-Ravaged Community

The Eaton Fire has devastated Altadena, destroying homes, cultural landmarks, and community institutions, while residents rally to rebuild and preserve the town's rich history, diversity, and neighborly character.

January 19, 2025 - NBC News

Emergency personnel responding to Post Fire in Los Angeles in June 2024.

Rebuilding After Disaster: The Role of Social Connections in Resilience

Dr. Lucy Jones emphasizes that resilience in the face of climate-driven disasters like wildfires relies on building strong social connections, which empower communities to recover and adapt to an increasingly challenging future.

January 13, 2025 - Los Angeles Times

Radical Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina before Hurricane Helene.

Post-Helene Reflections on Solastalgia and Community

Solastalgia is an increasingly relevant word that refers to the homesickness one feels when still at home, caused by distress due to environmental change in one’s home environment – for example, after a hurricane or wildfire.

January 13, 2025 - April Economides

Aerial view of wildfire damage in Lahaina, Maui.

$2.1 Billion Secured for Maui Wildfire Recovery and Resilience

Congress has approved federal funding to support Maui’s wildfire recovery, including housing, economic development, and infrastructure improvements while fostering long-term community resilience and preparedness.

December 31, 2024 - Hawaii Public Radio

Car half submerged in brown flood water in Asheville, North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

Love Letter to Asheville

A River Arts District resident and urbanist reflects on her experience in the former “climate haven” in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

October 17, 2024 - April Economides

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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