Drought in the United States

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The Dust Bowl of the 1930s is usually known for being the period for severe drought across many states; 1934, 1936 and 1939 were extremely hot and dry years across the United States. Hot temperatures led to the deaths of many people, livestock and animals all over the United States. Temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) to 105 °F (41 °C) or higher would be very common over the United States; dust storms were also common; many people residing in the United States suffered. Worse, these droughts hit while the Great Depression was affecting economies, families and children over the United States.

The Northeastern United States were hit with devastating drought which lasted almost four or five years in the 1960s. The drought affected multiple regional cities from Virginia into Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York; the drought also affected certain Midwest States.

Similar drought conditions hit the Northeast United States during 1999-the Northeast, including Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland were pummeled by extensive heat waves which killed almost 700 people across the Northeastern US and unusually dry conditions caused billions of dollars in destruction during 1999.^[1] This unusually damaging drought was reminiscent of the Northeast United States Drought of the 1960s considering it affected similar states within the Northeast United States and New England.

Contents 1 Drought conditions of the 1980s 1.1 Other 1980s droughts 2 Other United States droughts 3 Localized United States droughts 4 Causes of United States droughts 5 How the United States handles droughts 6 Droughts by region 7 See also 8 External links 9 References

Drought conditions of the 1980s

One exceptional and really devastating drought in the United States was during 1988 and 1989. Following a milder drought in the Southeastern United States and California the year before, this drought spread from the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Northern Great Plains and Western United States. This drought was widespread, unusually intense and accompanied by heat waves which killed around 4800 to 17000 people across the United States and also killed many livestock, hens, cattle, horses, farm animals and other animals across the United States.^{[citation needed]} The Drought of 1988 destroyed crops almost nationwide, residents' lawns went brown and water restrictions were declared many cities. The Yellowstone National Park fell victim to wildfires that burned many trees and created exceptional destruction in the area.

But wildfires and brush fires were not only in the area of Yellowstone: the same wildfires and brush fires were affecting other states and regional areas all over the United States. The 1988 Drought caused water restrictions in many areas of the country. Residents with brown grass rather than green were common during 1988 and 1989 in widespread areas across the United States. Substandard rainfall was a major contributor and instigator of the Drought of 1988 affecting the United States, along with scorching heat and temperatures which went 90 °F (32 °C) or better; in addition, 100 °F (38 °C) plus temperatures were all too common and frequent during 1988, which exacerbated the weather patterns causing the devastating drought in the first place. Mississippi River levels were lower than normal during 1988 because of the conditions affecting the Upper Midwest.

The Drought of 1988 caused exceptional damages totaling $60 billion in 1988 United States Dollars and became the costliest natural disaster in recorded weather histories to affect the United States. This drought was very catastrophic for multiple reasons; it continued across the Upper Midwest States and North Plains States during 1989, not officially ending until 1990.^[2] The Drought of 1988 had an economic force of impact that still lives on in people's minds.

The conditions continued into 1989 and 1990, although the drought had ended in some states thanks to normal rainfalls returning to some portions of the United States. ^[3] Dry conditions, however, increased again during 1989, affecting Iowa, Missouri, eastern Nebraska, Kansas and certain portions of Colorado.^[4] The drought also affected Canada in certain divisions.^{[citation needed]}

The Drought of 1988 became the worst drought since the the Dust Bowl 50 years before in the United States; 2008 estimates put damages from the drought somewhere between $80 billion and almost $120 billion in damage (2008 USD).

The Drought of 1988 was so devastating that in later years it was compared against Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and against Hurricane Katrina;^[5][6] in addition, it would be the costliest of the three events: Hurricane Katrina comes second with $81 billion (2005 United States Dollars), Hurricane Andrew coming in third. The Drought of 1988 qualifies being the costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.

One particular reason that the Drought of 1988 became very damaging was farmers might have farmed on land which was marginally arable. Another reason was pumping groundwater near the depletion mark.

Other 1980s droughts

Droughts also affected the Northeast US, Corn Belt and Midwest States during 1980 and 1983. The 1983 Midwestern States Drought was associated with very dry conditions, severe heat and substandard crop growth which affected prices and caused hardship for farmers.^[7] Multiple disaster declarations went out in Indiana and neighboring states because of the 1983 drought.^[8] Readings of 100 °F (38 °C) or higher became prevalent in 1983 during these dry spells across the Midwest, Ohio Valley Regions and Great Lakes. Kentucky declared the 1983 drought their second worst in the 20th century; the drought forced many trees and shrubs into dormancy and created water shortages in many towns.^[9] The associating heat waves killed between 500-700 people in the United States. Similar spells during 1980 caused between 4000 to 12000 deaths in the United States along with $24 billion in damage 1980 USD.

Other United States droughts

Other severe drought years in the United States happened through the 1950s. These droughts began in the Southwestern United States, New Mexico and Texas during 1950 and 1951; the drought was widespread through the Central Plains, Midwest and certain Rocky Mountain States, particularly between 1953 and 1957, and by 1956 parts of central Nebraska reached a drought index of -7, three points below the extreme drought index.^[10]

The Midwest and Rocky Mountains became victims during 2002; the regions fell victim under exceptional drought which was accompanied by dry conditions, wildfires and hot temperatures over the Western US and Midwestern State areas.^[11][12] The US Drought of 2002 turned a "normal" fire season to very dangerous, treacherous and violent. Denver was forced to impose mandatory limits regarding water for the first time in twenty one years. The Drought of 2002 was very bad in Colorado and certain other States in the West.^[13] Also, the Quad Cities had around eight inches below average during 2002 (normal precipitation is 38.06 inches every year); during 2002, 30.00 inches were recorded.

The US Drought of 2002 was so reminiscent of the 1988 Drought and compared against the Droughts of 1930s, The 1983 Drought and the Dry Spells of 1950s.

Although the Western United States and Southwestern US are likeliest, droughts can also happen over Upper Midwestern States, the Central Great Plains, Southeast United States, the Middle Atlantic, the Great Lakes Region, the Ohio River Valley, Northeastern United States and even New England. Droughts vary in severity and have potential for causing elevated to exceptional damage wherever they focus their area toward.

There were extensive droughts through the 2000s all over the Southeastern United States, continuing as westward as Texas. The Southeastern United States were affected by heavy droughts extending from the Carolinas toward Mississippi and even into Tennessee and Kentucky. Droughts affecting Florida were so severe lakes were actually drying out. Wildfires, forest fires and brush fires were very prevalent in association with the 2000s Drought in the Southeastern United States.

Localized United States droughts

During 1993 the Southeastern United States were seared with intense black hole temperatures and conditions of drought for extended periods. The heatwaves associated caused the deaths of seventeen people and overall damage from the Southeastern State Drought of 1993 was somewhere between $1 billion and $3 billion in damage (1993 United States Dollars).^[14]

Missouri, Arkansas, (portions of) Louisiana, Tennessee, southeast Iowa and northern Illinois were hit with severe droughts and heat during 2005.^[15][16] The conditions caused $1 billion in overall damage, but amazingly, nobody died during the drought and associated heat spells. The Quad Cities themselves received only 17.88 inches of average precip during 2005.

Short term droughts hit particular spots of the United States during 1976 and 1977, which foretold the drought events that would affect many portions of the USA during the 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

What precursed the exceptional Drought of 1988 was the California Drought which lasted for five years beginning in 1987 and continuing until around 1992.

From 1950 to 1957, Texas experienced the most severe drought in recorded history. By the time the drought ended, 244 of Texas’ 254 counties had been declared federal disaster areas.^[17] In 2008 and 2009, much of south and south-central Texas were in a state of exceptional drought.^[18]

Studies are indicating the United States had other droughts between the 1700s-1910s, although historic drought citation is needed.^{[citation needed]}

Causes of United States droughts

Contrary to popular belief, droughts can develop anywhere in the United States regardless of the patterns being El Nino, normal or La Nina. The North Atlantic Oscillation is another factor for consideration of droughts in the United States. Also, above normal dominations of high pressure system in any particular regional vicinity of the United States are known seriously for creating droughts.

How the United States handles droughts

Certain divisions within the United States could be more vulnerable and susceptible to droughts than others. Droughts can be more damaging than tornadoes, tropical cyclones, winter storms and flooding combined. Unlike a hurricane, tornado or flooding, droughts happen being more slowly developing than those incidents. Development of droughts often happen with really slow paces.

Some places handle droughts very badly. Droughts are very destructive around some areas. If these regions are not equipped to deal or handle a drought, the ramifications can be rather staggering.

In the Nevada "cash for grass" program, the people are paid to remove grass and put in desert landscaping.

When California suffered a severe drought from 1985 to 1991, a California company, Sun Belt Water Inc. was established for the purpose importing water from Canada in marine transport vessels formerly used for oil transport and converted to water carriers. The idea was commercially viable and Sun Belt Water Inc., was selected by the Goleta Water District to enter a long term contract when the government of British Columbia]] a province of Canada reversed its existing bulk water export policy. The change in government policy led to a claim by Sun Belt Water Inc. against Canada under the provisions of Chapter 11 of the the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Sun Belt Water Inc. maintains a web site where documents concerning the dispute are posted online - see - [www.sunbeltwater.com.

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Act was signed into law in 2006 (Public Law 109-430). The Western Governors' Association described the need for NIDIS in a 2004 report, Creating a Drought Early Warning System for the 21st Century: The National Integrated Drought Information System. The NIDIS Act calls for an interagency, multi-partner approach to drought monitoring, forecasting, and early warning, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).NIDIS is being developed to consolidate data on drought’s physical, hydrological and socio-economic impacts on an ongoing basis, to develop drought decision support and simulation tools for critical, drought-sensitive areas, and to enable proactive planning by those affected by drought. NIDIS (www.drought.gov) draws on the personnel, experience, and networks of the National Drought Mitigation Center, the NOAA Regional Climate Centers, and the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISAs), among others. Federal agencies and departments partnering in NIDIS include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Droughts by region

• Northeastern United States
• Midwest
• Southeastern United States
• Western United States
• Rockies
• The Great Plains States
• The Corn Belt States
• New England

See also

• Droughts
• National Integrated Drought Information System
• Peak water
• Wastewater treatment
• Water bank
• Water conservation

External links

• National Integrated Drought Information System
• Social & Economic Costs of Drought from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - National Weather Service
• National Drought Mitigation Center

References

1. ^ The Climate of 1999 . NCDC. (Report). Retrieved on 2009-04-17.
2. ^ Billion Dollar Disasters (Northern Plains Drought in Summer 1989) . Live Science. (Report). Retrieved on 2009-04-18.
3. ^ "Drought Stricken Areas Find Relief after Rains". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEEDC1639F935A2575AC0A96F948260. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
4. ^ Improving Drought Management . The University of Nebraska. (Report). Retrieved on 2009-04-19.
5. ^ Drought Condition in Utah, Utah Division of Water Resources, http://www.water.utah.gov/waterconditions/whatisdrought/default.asp, retrieved 2009-04-19 
6. ^ Earth Observatory/Droughts, NASA, http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/DroughtFacts, retrieved 2009-04-20 
7. ^ "Oilseeds: situation and outlook 1984". Bureau of Agricultural Economics. http://www.cababstractplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=19851823100. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
8. ^ "U.S. Drought Disaster Declared by U.S". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/03/us/drought-disaster-declared-by-us.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
9. ^ "The Top Ten Heat Events". NOAA. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=top10heat. Retrieved 2009-04-20. 
10. ^ Water Issues during the 1950s, Living History Farm, http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe50s/water_01.html, retrieved 2009-04-19 
11. ^ "The US Drought of 2002". NOAA. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/ann/paleo-drought.html. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
12. ^ "NOAA Drought Monitor". NOAA. http://http://drought.unl.edu/dm/archive/2002/drmon0514.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
13. ^ The Drought of 2002 in Colorado . The Colorado State University. (Report). Retrieved on 2009-04-17.
14. ^ Billion Dollar Disasters . Live Science. (Report). Retrieved on 2009-04-18.
15. ^ "U.S. drought conditions worsen". The Brownfield Network. http://www.geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/changes/natural/drought. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 
16. ^ "The Quad Cities is under Extreme Drought". WHBF-TV4 Rock Island, Illinois. http://www.whbf.com/Global/story.asp?S=3625807&nav=0zGocQj2. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 
17. ^ "To Love the Beautiful: The Story of Texas State Parks" The Texas State Library and Archives. Retrieved Aug 26, 2009.
18. ^ Ron Smith “Exceptional drought” covers 32 million acres in south Texas Southwest Farm Press Aug 3, 2009.