Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
survival kit is like a typical family preparedness go-kit or disaster supplies kit.
However, it should also include rock salt to melt ice on roadways, sand or cat litter
to improve traction, snow shovels and/or any other snow removal equipment, and
adequate clothing and blankets to keep warm. Emergency Managers can also work
with the agency responsible for their roads and bridges to ensure that plows are
ready, and that there is enough sand and salt to cover the roads as needed. As with
most debris-causing hazards, it is also prudent that the Emergency Manager work
with other stakeholders to develop a debris management plan for their jurisdiction.
This includes debris collection, disposal, and reduction as warranted.
Drought
Description and History
A drought is a period of abnormally dry weather that persists long enough to pro-
duce a serious hydrologic imbalance. This can lead to a water supply shortage and
crop damage. The severity of a drought depends on the amount of moisture defi-
ciency, the duration, and the size of the affected area. There are three types of
droughts:
Meteorological drought—A period of time, generally ranging from months
to years, during which time the actual moisture supply at a given location
consistently falls short of the climatological moisture supply.
Hydrological drought—Occurs when stream flows and reservoirs are low due
to a lack of prolonged rainfall.
Agricultural drought—Occurs when the amount of water needed for crops is
more than that available in the soil.
In 1996, the state of Texas withstood a drought that lasted more than 10 months.
This drought was both a meteorological drought (8 months) and a hydrological
drought (10 months). This drought period saw significant drops in reservoir and
aquifer levels over much of Texas. Agricultural impacts as a result of the drought
were significant with estimates of total loss being in the range of $5 billion. 16
Consequences of Droughts
Droughts can cause economic, environmental, and social effects. Economic effects
typically come in the area of agricultural losses. Droughts typically lead to lower
crop yields, which can lead to lower profits for farmers and higher market prices for
agricultural products such as produce. Environmental impacts include erosion, dry
vegetation increasing wildfire risks, insect infestation, plant diseases, deterioration
of habitat and landscape, poor air quality, and degraded water quality of water that
remains (due to stagnation). Social effects come from the lack of potable drinking
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