Planning for Drought
In the last few decades, interest in planning for drought has increased at all levels. In 1980, only 3 states (New York, South Dakota, and Colorado) had drought plans. Today, 38 states either have some type of plan or are in the process of developing a plan. The tremendous cost (economic, social, and environmental) associated with drought impacts is one of the reasons for this interest.
The actual process of planning for drought is not static. It has been evolving since the early 1980s, through trial and error. That process can be confusing, and the prospect of drought planning can be daunting. This website is designed to help people and organizations plan for drought. It is based on the 3 main components of drought planning: monitoring, risk assessment, and mitigation. This section includes an overview of drought planning, a directory of U.S. drought contacts, and links to other planning resources.
The Status of State Drought Plans
Managing Water: Policies and Problems
The Basics of Drought Planning: A 10-Step Process This NDMC white paper is a good starting point for those new to drought planning. It is also available as a pdf.
More Drought Planning Methodologies
State Drought Plans The NDMC maintains a list of links to drought plans from a number of U.S. states.
Directory of Drought Contacts Use this list to find drought planners in other U.S. states and regions.
© 2006 National Drought Mitigation Center