Although there is no clear and set definition of drought, to some extent it can be summed up to explain that drought occurs when a region has received less than normal precipitation which results in dryer than normal conditions for that particular region. However, people in different areas and environments have varying views on what drought is and when it is occurring, “characteristics of drought differ significantly between regions such as North American Great Plains, Australia, southern Africa, western Europe, and northwestern India” (Wilhite, 2005, p. 5-6). The definition of drought can also depend on the industry or sector it is being applied to, as Wilhite states,
Drought means something different for a water manager, an agriculturalist, …show more content…
Unlike a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, all of which we can say when the disaster struck an area and when they were over; we often do not know we are suffering from a drought until we are several days, weeks, or months into a dry spell and the environment starts to show signs of a lack of water, and there is no signal as to when the drought is over, “over what period of time does normal or above-normal precipitation need to be sustained for the drought to be declared officially over?” (Wilhite, 2005, p. 5). Another complication of drought is that the effects encompass a much larger area than most disasters. If a tornado touches down, chances are it will directly impact a few towns at most, or a hurricane will usually affect areas along a coast, certain areas are also prone to certain types of hazards. However, drought can occur anywhere and as drought worsens, it affects larger areas and higher populations including entire states and countries. Drought can also indirectly influence other areas that depend on resources from the drought stricken regions. Due to these differences it is more “challenging to quantify the impact” and it is “more challenging to provide disaster relief than for other hazards” (Wilhite, …show more content…
The entire state of California is suffering from drought, most of which is considered exceptional drought (the highest intensity rating on the U.S. Drought Monitor) with a few areas along the northern border and southeastern portion of the state in the severe to extreme range. Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona are also experiencing drought statewide, along with large portions of Washington, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Other states, including some in the northeastern portions of the United States are dealing with slight drought, or according to the U.S. Drought Monitor they are “abnormally dry” (NIDIS, “Welcome”). The United States is not alone in the current drought disasters, according to the National Integrated Drought Information Systems (NIDIS) Global Drought Information System, the drought in China is the worst is has been in 60 years; 2.5 million people in Somalia and Kenya are affected by drought; Sao Paulo, Brazil’s water supply is so low they don’t expect to make it through January, 2015; and almost all of Australia is impacted. Europe is the last inhabited continent to be affected by drought, with the British Isles starting to show signs (NIDIS, “Current
Drought means something different for a water manager, an agriculturalist, …show more content…
Unlike a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, all of which we can say when the disaster struck an area and when they were over; we often do not know we are suffering from a drought until we are several days, weeks, or months into a dry spell and the environment starts to show signs of a lack of water, and there is no signal as to when the drought is over, “over what period of time does normal or above-normal precipitation need to be sustained for the drought to be declared officially over?” (Wilhite, 2005, p. 5). Another complication of drought is that the effects encompass a much larger area than most disasters. If a tornado touches down, chances are it will directly impact a few towns at most, or a hurricane will usually affect areas along a coast, certain areas are also prone to certain types of hazards. However, drought can occur anywhere and as drought worsens, it affects larger areas and higher populations including entire states and countries. Drought can also indirectly influence other areas that depend on resources from the drought stricken regions. Due to these differences it is more “challenging to quantify the impact” and it is “more challenging to provide disaster relief than for other hazards” (Wilhite, …show more content…
The entire state of California is suffering from drought, most of which is considered exceptional drought (the highest intensity rating on the U.S. Drought Monitor) with a few areas along the northern border and southeastern portion of the state in the severe to extreme range. Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona are also experiencing drought statewide, along with large portions of Washington, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Other states, including some in the northeastern portions of the United States are dealing with slight drought, or according to the U.S. Drought Monitor they are “abnormally dry” (NIDIS, “Welcome”). The United States is not alone in the current drought disasters, according to the National Integrated Drought Information Systems (NIDIS) Global Drought Information System, the drought in China is the worst is has been in 60 years; 2.5 million people in Somalia and Kenya are affected by drought; Sao Paulo, Brazil’s water supply is so low they don’t expect to make it through January, 2015; and almost all of Australia is impacted. Europe is the last inhabited continent to be affected by drought, with the British Isles starting to show signs (NIDIS, “Current