Disaster Assessment Reporting Tool (DART)

Learn more about how DART was created and how it is being used to help assess streams damaged by natural disasters. 

The Emergency Watershed Protection Program is a federal watershed recovery program aimed to protect lives and imminently threatened structures in or along waterways. You can read more about the program on the North Carolina EWP Program website.

To apply for funding through EWP or StRAP, please collect information on your potential sites using DART, and refer to the site specific information below:

EWP

• If you are a sponsor organization that has requested funding through EWP, collect site information using DART.  NRCS will be in contact with you regarding next steps on submitting funding requests.  For additional information, visit the EWP website.

StRAP

• StRAP is not currently accepting applications, but will begin an application cycle for Hurricane Helene-affected organizations in the near future.  
• For the time being, you can begin collecting information on the sites you would like to have considered for StRAP funding using DART.  Once the StRAP application period begins, a simple application form will be listed on the StRAP website.  You will use this form to provide information on your organization, total amount of funds requested, and which sites submitted through DART you want considered as part of your application for StRAP funding.
• For more information on what projects are eligible for StRAP, visit the StRAP main page.

In late July, staff from across the state came together to help assess damage from Hurricane Helene and complete site assessments for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP).  55 people from Soil & Water Conservation Districts, NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation, Natural Resources Conservation Council, and other groups spent 5 days working in Watauga, Avery, Yancey, and McDowell counties.  We assessed 107 different sites, with over 71 sites identified as potentially eligible for EWP.   Streambank stabilization and stream restoration on these sites would benefit $86,905,008 worth of property, including homes, roads, bridges, utilities, water treatment plants, and commercial buildings.  This week was an important push towards completing stream repair projects in the wake of Helene.

Field crews assessing an eroding bank threatening a home.

Staff assessing streambank erosion along a temporary bridge built to replace a bridge destroyed during Helene.