6 Interesting Things You May Not Know About Drought
Drought is an extended period of abnormally low rainfall, resulting in food shortages and crop failures. It can affect large areas, such as a continent, or small areas, such as a single state. A drought can last for months or years. Here are 6 things you may not know about drought.
Make sure you check out this US Drought Monitor!
How many droughts has the USA experienced?
Droughts are a regular occurrence in the United States. The country has experienced several major droughts in its history, including the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, which caused severe economic and environmental damage across the Great Plains. Many families had to relocate since they couldn’t survive the conditions. The great book, “Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, does a wonderful job detailing life at that time for many families.
Four Types of Droughts
Droughts can be classified into four types—meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socio-economic.
- Meteorological droughts occur when there is a prolonged period of below-average precipitation.
- Hydrological droughts happen when water resources, such as reservoirs and aquifers, decline to below-normal levels.
- Agricultural droughts are caused by a lack of rainfall during the growing season, which can lead to crop failures.
- Socio-economic droughts happen when the demand for water exceeds the available supply, often due to population growth or changes in water use patterns.
1. Drought can cause water shortages.
Drought is a period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages of water. This can have devastating consequences for both humans, livestock and domestic animals, and the natural environment. Crops may wither and die, water sources may run dry, and wildfires may become more common. In severe cases, drought can lead to famine and displacement.
For these reasons, it is important to be prepared for drought conditions. stockpile water, create firebreaks, and develop contingency plans for protecting critical infrastructure. By taking steps to mitigate the effects of drought, we can help to ensure that water shortages don’t become as serious a crisis.
Lake Mead
I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and this is a picture of Lake Mead. Lake Mead is the name of the water stored behind the Hoover Dam and southern Nevada. The area has been experiencing record low water levels and the shrinking of Lake Mead due to the limited snowpack in the mountains at the headwater and along the path of the Colorado River.
There are several issues that come to mind when you see this situation. Las Vegas is very near Lake Mead and relies on the water from the lake to support the rapidly growing population there, but also the Hoover Dam electricity generation system that provides power to that population. There has been concern that the intake tubes for the dam to get enough water to run the large power generators may end up higher than the water level, thus, no water would be available to run those generators. That is a scary scenario to contemplate!
2. Drought can damage crops and lead to food shortages.
A drought can have a devastating effect on crops and cause food shortages. When there is a lack of rain, the soil dries out and becomes hard, making it difficult for roots to take on available water and nutrients. This can lead to stunted growth, discoloration, and eventually death of the plants. Crops are not the only victims of drought; livestock can also suffer from dehydration and malnutrition. Effective Ways To Prepare For Food Shortages
Without adequate food and water, animals become weak and unhealthy, and their meat may be unsuitable for human consumption. In severe cases, droughts can lead to famine as people compete for scarce resources. To prevent this from happening, it is important to take steps to conserve water during times of drought. This includes limiting irrigation, using drought-tolerant plants, and practicing water conservation in the home. By taking these measures, we can help protect our food supply during times of drought.
We often fail to remember that our agricultural industry, including farms and ranches, rely on a significant percentage of available water resources. If there is insufficient water available, they can’t raise the crops or feed and water animals we rely on for meat.
3. Drought can cause wildfires.
Brush fires and wildfires can happen during any season, but they are most likely to occur during the dry summer months or in periods of drought. While drought conditions certainly contribute to an increased risk of wildfires, there are other factors that can also play a role. For example, high winds can quickly spread embers across a dry landscape, while low humidity levels can make it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze. 7 Quick Tips For Emergency Prepping
In addition, humans play a role in the vast majority of wildfires, whether through carelessness (such as leaving a campfire unattended), or malice (deliberately setting fire to property). By understanding the risks and taking steps to prevent wildfires, we can help protect our communities from these devastating events.
4. Drought can harm the environment.
Droughts can harm the environment in a number of ways. First, it can cause water sources to dry up, leaving plants and animals without the moisture they need to survive. It can lead to wildfires, as dry conditions make it easier for fires to start and spread. It can cause soil erosion, as wind and rain can wash away topsoil that is already weakened by lack of moisture.
Droughts can deplete groundwater reserves, making it difficult for people to access clean drinking water. In short, droughts can have a significant impact on the environment, both in the short and long term. As such, it is important to be aware of the risks they pose and take steps to minimize their damage. As mentioned, it’s also important to store water on your property during periods when water is more plentiful so you and your family are prepared with water resources if and when a drought occurs.
5. Drought can impact human health.
A drought is a long period of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages of water. This can have a serious impact on the environment and human health. When normal water sources dry up, people are forced to find alternative sources of water, which can often be contaminated.
This can lead to waterborne diseases, such as cholera. Dehydration is also a major concern during a drought, as people may not have access to clean drinking water to keep themselves properly hydrated. As a result, they may experience heat stroke, diarrhea, and other health problems. In severe cases, droughts can lead to famine and death. Therefore, it is important to be prepared for drought by stockpiling water and non-perishable food items.
6. Drought can lead to economic losses.
Drought can have a significant impact on the economy. When crops fail and water supplies dwindle, farmers and ranchers are forced to sell off their livestock, leading to higher prices for meat and dairy products. In addition, droughts can lead to increases in the price of fruits and vegetables, as well as other commodities that are impacted by the dry conditions. How To Prepare For Hyperinflation
Final Word
Furthermore, droughts can lead to power outages and disruptions in transportation, as well as increases in wildfires. All of these factors can lead to substantial economic losses for both individuals and businesses. Therefore, it is important to be prepared for drought by stocking up on supplies and having a plan in place to minimize the impact on your finances and the safety of those we love. May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Lake Mead AdobeStock_445044006 by MichaelVi, Watering Lettuce AdobeStock_116882975 by rodimovpavel
Mead and Powell are done. Overpopulation has killed them.
We’ve managed better in Oklahoma from the dust bowl because we built reservoirs, ponds and runoff catchments on just about every place that owners have two brain cells working.
The wildlife was decimated in the 30s too. It took conservation efforts 35+yrs to bring back deer to western Oklahoma and the elk have never recovered completely.
We ate them all within two years. Remember that when ya think you’ll “just survive off the land” in planning. Population has tripled since then.
We went 35 days with no rain, then 6”, now back in a month with none and it’s above 100 for weeks if not months now. Gardens dying despite watering daily. All efforts are going into the livestock and praying the well doesn’t dry. Pulling all my corn Sunday ready or not.
Hi Matt, I agree on Lake Mead and Lake Powell, wow, the levels are so low people are walking around in Lake Powell where water used to be. CRAZY! You are lucky Oklahoma planned ahead with reservoirs, etc. Wow, the deer and elk population, glad your state was on top of it. We have a lot of hunters in our extended family who hunt in Utah, I need to check with them on how things are looking. I’m glad you talked about this today because people assume there will always be deer, elk, fish, etc. This comment should make people think again. Thanks, Matt, Linda
Matt,
Just about the same situation here in the Texas Hill Country. Only difference is that you got 6″ while we got 1″. The deer are plentiful but very gaunt and are eating everything they can find including shrubs and such that they would never eat otherwise. And, as gaunt at they are, they would nor really be worth harvesting anyway. No meat on their bones.
We have been around 100 most of June and still at it. Highs 100 or more forecast for the next week and then only dropping into the mid to high 90s. And, things are getting so dry that we fear a wildfire. Scared to be gone very long from the house in case someone does something stupid, like all the aerial fireworks that were being exploded around July 4. People had no idea how quickly those can start a rapid out-of-control fire. They just gotta have their fun no matter who loses their property.
Okay, rant off. Have a good day and get that corn harvested. LOL!
Hi Harry, I’m glad you mentioned the fires and fireworks. The lawns or front yards are extremely dry right now. Those “fun” fireworks could take down our neighborhoods. I love watching fireworks where they are “controlled” more so than close to homes. Thanks for sharing about the deer are gaunt. People need to be aware of the somewhat “free” meat they can hunt for now. If there gaunt, you are so right, you will get very little meat. Wow, thanks for enlightening us about Texas. The heat here is higher somedays than where I lived in the desert. With crazy weather, many gardens are struggling. Linda
Lol I’d hate to be in hill country the day y’all get 6” of rain. My boat ain’t big enough
Oh, we could stand a lot more than that right now. These limestone infested hills would soak that up like a sponge. LOL!! I’m not worried about my boat not being big enough. We are way up on a hillside at 1150 foot elevation. That may not sound like much to Rocky Mountain folks, but the highest point in the county is about six miles west of us and only 1400. And we are several miles from and 240 feet higher than the lake. Creeks that formerly were year round are dry and the rivers around here are down to a trickle. I know the lake level is starting to suffer as well but haven’t checked the recent level.
It is what it is and we deal with it. We are Texans and you Okies are just as tough. Wish I was there to help you with that corn harvest but I have to get my water tanks set and filled NOW!
Hi Harry, I love your comment!! It really is what it is and we have to deal with it. Good one! Linda
Hi Matt, oh my gosh, I have the giggles over the boat size!! Linda
Matt, we have wasting disease in deer populations here. It is a prion disease,..it is a part of a protein and can pass to anyone who consumes that meat, or to any animal that eats from where a sick animal has expelled any body fluid, including slobber. For that reason we have taken all wild meats off our menu except possibly snake./Fish.
On the areas close to the Coast in Southern Ms.. One of the channels i watch( Deep south Homestead) reports a FLASH DROUGHT. ( this is what the weather service called it.) They have lost the corn he has raised for 40+ years.He calls it “Danny Corn”. He showed the roots dry and fire ants attacking the corn for any moisture remaining in it. The soil is baked.. they were watering the corn 2 x a day..and within a 2 hour time frame it was like powder again. , they have since got a few small showers.
we got 1.5 inches of rain about 3 weeks ago , and also got 1/2 inch last week.. I have been planting in wicking pots( Gardening w/Leon-style) because of other issues where i am…I have been building soil and have a small place i am going back to some in ground gardening… and using heavy mulch, , lasagna type gardening.. combo to build up soil and limit a invasive weed i received in some hay…we also need shade cloth for all grow areas…. i have been told to get 40%…and esp for tender trees/ those that grow best in understory.
a friend in Hill country Tx uses 40% + has a green house,wicking pots, raised beds., bird netting,self composts all kinds of animal /hay waste,and has underground watering drip irrigation ,uses mulches shredded paper, etc… uses misters for part of animals. prepares cactus for animal feed… Assessment from there is very early tomatoes, and very late tomatoes… to do this one must do own starts… select crops are doing fair…Many set backs of a very experienced gardener..
Yeah we’ve avoided the CWD so far.
Anytime you grow or raise it’s a battle for sure.
We did not have any CWD until they imported elk back to Tn… they brought it …here. Have a friend that had family die after eating venison brains on regular hunts… that disease is terrible. by one knows they have it- or anyone suspects is too late , there is not treatment for animal or man. My friend is a Vet. advise was to me , any carcass must be buried a MINIMUM of 6 feet and all contaminated soil around critter should be considered contaminated..and buried.same depth.The prion is a partial protein it is viable in soil documented 100 years., since is a partial protein it can not migrate…to resurface.
Annnd just like that it’s 105 and now raining lol
99 here, dew point 72. neither chickens nor rabbits are happy.
Matt, 105 degrees and it’s raining??????? Thank goodness for the rain if it actually soaks in. Linda
Linda, Matt and Harry,
I’m in favor of massive pipelines/canals from the Mississippi River to the Colorado River and probably also one from Oregon down to the agricultural areas of N. California. The Mississippi pipelines would solve our water problems in the SW and alleviate the flooding problems of many southern States. That’s an infrastructure project worth doing.
Lake Mead isn’t quite done yet. They just activated a third “straw” that will allow them to drain it even further, but the day is coming. It’s seriously making me consider relocating from the Mojave desert.
Hi Ray, I hear you on the Lake Mead water levels, it’s scary. We could see the writing on the wall when we lived In Southern Utah. We had watched it slowly go down as well as Lake Powell, we knew we had to sell our home. It’s only a matter of time. St. George started a 10,000-home subdivision (I could be wrong on the number-but close to 10,000). It will be similar to Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah. They will have their own lakes, restaurants, shopping centers and so much more. It will be like a small town. DayBreak is so beautiful but water will be an issue down south. Wow, there are no words. Linda
It seems we are the “all of the above” drought this time. There is barely a spot west of the Mississippi that doesn’t have a drought. I think patterns repeat themselves and we may be repeating the 30s and 40s. We aren’t ready for that type of hardship. We don’t work together.
Hi Janet, you are so right. If we don’t work together things will be much harder. Yikes, Linda
Hi Linda:
We live in a drought area 99% of the time. We can not grow much food. I have mint and sage growing but I have not seen how it i s doing. I know Mint will grow anywhere. I want to grow a lot more but I have to use 3 planters if I want to grow anything. We do have a good water supply because it comes down a mountain way underground. The area it comes from gets pretty good rain and snowfall every year.
Hi Jackie, I remember you said you had soil that was hard to grow stuff, but you have water, wow. It’s crazy I walked down to meet a neighbor (I’m building a small home behind my daughter’s home). She has had trouble with growing anything. She’s very frustrated with the soil and trying to grow vegetables or flowers. I want to investigate her soil, it doesn’t make sense to me since we do not live in a desert now. I love learning, that’s how I roll. Linda
Harry White you will not get water from my area in the PNW!!! We have just enough for us and the hydro. we need. CA wanted to get some of ours before and got nixed when they tried. We need the water for agriculture, too. Last Summer when it got so hot here, we couldn’t water anything but food for our families. We live on a river and the water went so far down that we had to put in and extra pump for just our home and small garden use. The fish were having a lot of trouble, too. Not being mean, just practical.
Hi Cheryl, wow, it worries me when I see the water levels go down. So, you were in a drought last year, right?? I’m assuming because you couldn’t water anything but food for your family. Thank you for letting us know. We need to hear from many areas of the US, thank you, Linda
We live in Northern Nevada (Reno/Sparks) and we’re in yet another drought. It seems to be happening more and more. Yet our stupid elected officials have approved MORE AND MORE AND MORE housing developments! Where is the water coming from to supply all those new houses? and still keep all of us long-time/existing population supplied with water? I went to Costco this morning past a brand new high school, Hug High, built on what used to be a gorgeous golf course. The City wouldn’t let the golf course people water the grass but you should see all the brand new grass EVERYWHERE at that new high school – massive sprinklers going everywhere! Las Vegas has banned grass, everyone xeriscapes, they’re even tearing OUT grass to put in artificial looking turf. I have a very small lawn patch but it’s on a regulated sprinkler system, at the times to water the County says I have to. All of my trees, etc. are also on a regulated drip system. No water waste here! I resent all the newbies moving into this area taking the water away from those of us who have been here a lifetime. The water situation is only going to get worse!
Hi Robbie, I can see your frustration, I’m so sorry, my friend. When my mother was alive in Las Vegas, NV. the county gave money to families to Zeroscape their yards. That was a blessing for my mom being on a very tight budget. I think we still sent her a little extra to cover what the city wouldn’t cover. No mowing no water usage, and living in the desert it was the right thing to do. I wonder why they didn’t do Zeroscape at the high school? Interesting, the desert is the desert and sucks up water. Oh well, we were not in charge. LOL! Linda
Yes, I agree with you Robbie!!
Hi Cheryl, I would think, but I’m not in charge, that the city officials would analyze the water consumption. It’s taken a few months to get our new home “Impact Fee” that came today. It’s from the city/county water and sewer department. Linda
I have never lived in an area suffering from a true drought. All I can do is offer my prayers that everyone suffering thru this find relief. Please stay safe and healthy everyone.
Hi Chris, thank you for your kind words, my friend. We all need some prayers right now for rain! We will get through this but it is tough. Linda
On the western drought, I have no dog in the fight. I live East of the Ms. river. Those who wish to divert part of the Ms river…need to understand that that resource is also variable. It has to be dredged regularly to keep shipping lanes open part of the time… Oh so taking away that water-will further interfere with transportation/shipping. People need to get real and stop wasting resources living in a desert. NO rain=no water=NO LIFE. Those there and who see the facts need to move and make their relocation sooner rather than later. Sell your property cheap for today’s market.. it will be worthless soon!
Those who are building endless communities and approving more building in the western lands need to look to taking the salt out of ocean water and running dehumidifiers- ( which can be purified via boiling and Berkey or similar… ) There are diy plans on net, using one and the bigger they are rated the closer to that amount they draw humidity from the air… I looked at the plans as a backup.. If one has stable electricity they can do it. There must be some humidity to pull from…. Of course Vegas says it gets 27% of Water from . and 36% of water from Hoover goes to Calif….
IF the further downstream one IS from HOOVER, the less power/water they received it could make Calli rethink watering their golf courses and building.without regard .
Once there is no water from Hoover – ( unless something is done pronto- it will not be long…about 170 ft give or take…) Where do they think it will come from? Oh and they voted down the De-desalination plant- it costs too much $ …( politics put too much money in hands of politicians and special interests.)Allocation $$$ goes on the convicts from every OTHER country that are coming here.? They break laws to come to this country they are illegal…
IF any of us went to their respective country and broke their laws- we would be in jail…. Just ask the girl who is currently in Russia after breaking drug laws or the Ex- soldier who spent months in prison in Mexico because he accidentally got in wrong lane at border with a weapon in his car…
I was out west for about 6 -9 months 2 different time. I crossed Hoover Dam on several occasions. I lived in Denver for a little while.. There is a beauty of the west- it is vastly different than the middle of the country. It has a pull for many as does the majesty of the stately trees of the south and east.
Hi Denise, this is why we moved from Southern Utah last October. I could see the water shortages. Anyone who watches the news or reads online will see a drought in so many areas. Linda
VERY soon water will be more valuable than gold.
Hi Paula, nothing would surprise me anymore. Crazy! Linda