Omaha, Nebraska – A new effort to restore Omaha’s damaged landscape is set to take place this April, as local organizations come together to help residents rebuild after devastating storms. On Saturday, April 11, Keep Omaha Beautiful and the Arbor Day Foundation will host a tree distribution event aimed at providing 200 new trees to community members, including those still recovering from the 2024 tornadoes.
The initiative focuses on restoring the city’s tree canopy, which suffered heavy losses during severe weather in recent years. Recipients of the trees were selected through the Tri-County Long Term Recovery Group, ensuring that support reaches those most affected by the storms and those working to rebuild their homes and neighborhoods.
Community effort to restore trees and support recovery
The tree distribution event represents more than just planting greenery. Organizers say the effort plays a key role in long-term recovery, helping both the environment and the people who live in it. Trees provide many benefits, including improved air quality, reduced heat, better stormwater control, and an overall boost to community wellbeing.
The event is made possible through a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation, Keep Omaha Beautiful, and the Tri-County Long Term Recovery Group, which receives funding support from the Omaha Community Foundation. A team of disaster case managers from several organizations will also be present to assist residents, including Heartland Hope Mission, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, COPE Elkhorn, and East Central Long Term Recovery.
Leaders involved in the project say the impact of planting trees goes beyond the physical environment. “Trees can heal the scars left by natural disasters and help us persevere after loss,” said Lachel Bradley-Williams, senior manager of community trees for the Arbor Day Foundation. “Rebuilding doesn’t happen overnight. Meaningful recovery takes time and that’s why we’re working side-by-side with local leaders like Keep Omaha Beautiful and the Omaha Community Foundation. Because together, we can grow hope.”
The Arbor Day Foundation has long supported communities facing natural disasters, distributing millions of trees worldwide as part of its recovery efforts. In Omaha, this initiative aims to bring both environmental and emotional healing to neighborhoods still dealing with the aftermath of destruction.
Local leaders also emphasized the importance of rebuilding in a thoughtful and sustainable way. “Keep Omaha Beautiful aims to strengthen the urban tree canopy by expanding it in a way that focuses on biodiversity. Adding a variety of tree species also improves the resiliency of our city’s trees as we adapt to a changing climate,” said KOB Tree Program Manager Emily Hergenrader. “We are thrilled to help with tree-replacement efforts in our community.”
Over the past few years, repeated storms have weakened Omaha’s tree canopy, leaving gaps in neighborhoods and reducing the natural protection trees provide. This upcoming distribution event marks a step forward in addressing that loss while helping residents reclaim a sense of stability and renewal.
As the community prepares for the event, organizers hope the new trees will serve as lasting symbols of recovery, growth, and resilience for years to come.
