Drought Mitigation and Response Advisory Council Elements of a Drought Response Plan May 29, 2008

Drought Mitigation and Response Advisory Council

Elements of a Drought Response Plan

May 29, 2008

Statement of Purpose

“The purpose of the Kentucky Drought Mitigation and Response

plan is to reduce the impacts of droughts by identifying principal

activities, groups, or regions most at risk and developing

mitigation actions and programs that alter these vulnerabilities”

Adapted from The Basics of Drought Planning: A 10-

Step Process

When drought management is considered in this context,

Drought Response becomes but one component of a

larger suite of actions.

Drought Plans in Other States• Introduction

• Drought Conditions Update

• Drought Trigger Indicators

• Structure of Drought Planning

• Drought Task Force

• Drought Task Force Work Groups – Monitoring, Drinking Water, Agriculture, Wildlife and Wildfire, Recreation, Economic Development and Tourism, Water Development

• Workgroup Activities and Priorities

• Appendices

• Recommendations, Executive Order, Task

Force Members, Work Group Members

Drought Plans in Other States



1. INTRODUCTION

2. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PLANS AND POLICIES

3. OVERVIEW OF DROUGHT IN HAWAII

4. HAWAII DROUGHT PROGRAM

5. DROUGHT MONITORING, FORECASTING, AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT

6. DROUGHT RISK AND VULNERABILITY IN HAWAII

7. DROUGHT COMMUNICATION AND RESPONSE ACTIONS

8. DROUGHT MITIGATION AND PREPAREDNESS

9. RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS



1. INTRODUCTION

2. DROUGHT MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE

3. DATA COLLECTION

4. COMMUNICATION

5. DROUGHT ACTION LEVELS

6. DROUGHT RESPONSE

7. DROUGHT SEVERITY INDICES

8. EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS-LEGAL AUTHORITIES AND POWERS



1. INTRODUCTION

2. DROUGHT MONITORING

3. DROUGHT EVALUATION REGIONS

4. DROUGHT INDICATORS

6. RESPONSES TO DROUGHT IN VIRGINIA

5. DECLARARTION OF DROUGHT STAGES



Many Plans with many things in common

Information – background, climate, plan purpose

Duties and Responsibilities of Groups and Agencies

Organizational Structure and Information Pathways

Specific Drought Response Actions

•Climate monitoring and drought development

•Drought triggers and associated agency/community actions

•Recommended local actions to reduce water consumption

•Identification of available agency resources and emergency

assistance

A majority can be classified as pure response plans

A transition from “drought-reactive” to “drought-proactive”

Effective local drought preparedness as the primary mitigation for drought

Local, state and federal efforts efficiently linked

Drought preparedness as the key to reducing drought risk

Drought planning creates a framework for preparedness

Guiding Principles for Kentucky’s Drought

Plan

Kentucky’s Drought Plan – Goals

Create a Drought Management Organizational Structure

• Formalize and improve upon existing structure

• Develop clear lines of communication and encourage close coordination

• Facilitate the implementation of risk reduction activities during non-drought years

• Develop public trust in state/local/federal drought management capabilities

• Provide continuity through time and changes to personnel and administrations

Goal #1

GOVERNOR

DROUGHT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Climate Monitoring & Water Resources Assessment

Emergency Water BoardDrought Risk Assessment &

Mitigation

Agriculture

Recreation, Tourism & Commerce

Drinking Water & Public Health

Wildfire Protection

Energy & Industry

Fish, Wildlife & Environment

Drought Management Organizational Structure



Prepare a detailed plan for dealing with Drought Emergency

• Kentucky is not prepared for successful management of a drought of the magnitude

of those seen in the 1930’s and 1950’s.

• Agricultural emergencies are common with the common droughts of recent memory

• Water supply emergencies have been most successfully averted by Mother Nature

with a few exceptions

• Pre-determined crisis management procedures can remove a substantial roadblock to

rapid response and effective decision-making

• Regional or statewide water supply emergencies will require the entire combined

effort of local, state, and federal agencies

Goal #2


Develop a new Climate and Water Resources Monitoring System

• Expand upon the role of the Water Availability Advisory Group as the official advisory

body for analysis of climate and hydrologic data

• Develop a more comprehensive system of drought classification that provides

valuable and timely information to all water-sensitive sectors of Kentucky’s economy

• Develop a clear yet comprehensive procedure to communicate the severity of

emerging drought to the public including early warning

• Identify data needs or gaps in scientific understanding that must be addressed in

order to effectively implement drought mitigation strategies in the Commonwealth

• Provide justifications for investment of resources into programs or systems designed

to improve the collection, processing or application of climate and

hydrologic data in the Commonwealth

Goal #3


Develop capabilities to implement comprehensive drought impact

assessment, before, during, and after a drought experience

• Areas/instances of drought impacts often learned about second-hand

• During drought many adverse outcomes can be mitigated if the proper agencies are

notified in a timely manner

• Pre-drought vulnerability assessment will identify areas where proactive drought

mitigation measures can be implemented

• Post-drought impact assessment is crucial to the progressive improvement of

drought management processes at all levels of society

• Quantification of the adverse impacts of drought on social, human, environmental

and economic health can lead to improved drought risk-reduction strategies

Goal #4


Put forth recommendations that provide a framework for transitioning

from reactive to proactive drought management

• Develop and implement procedures for drought vulnerability assessments to identify

the most significant drought risks in the Commonwealth

• Develop institutional partnerships that work to reduce drought risk and increase

understanding of the scientific, social, or economic complexities of drought

• Work to develop long-term changes in human expectations and behaviors as they

relate to reducing drought risk

• Seek partnerships and develop strong ties between existing programs and agencies

in state government that work in areas related to reducing drought

risk

Goal #5

Documents

Drought Mitigation and Response Advisory Council Elements of a Drought Response Plan May 29, 2008