As I began to research more and more about droughts, I was immediately curious as to what different states are doing to prepare for and fight against droughts. Water is life, and climate change is directly affecting access and quality of water. With this in mind, I began looking at whether states had plans in place or just fancy rhetoric. California: Most of the measures focus on ensuring there is enough water available during drought, but there are no specifics about public health-related measures. The city of Berkeley has more measures in place that include assessments on water resources, and Los Angeles has measures to prepare for increased drought conditions. Maryland: The plan in Maryland includes ensuring water availability. New York: In New York, the plan monitors the possibility of droughts and maintains water stockpiles. New Hampshire: The plan in New Hampshire identifies drought as a health-related threat, but does not include measures to address the issue. Specific cities also are increasing water storage capacity. Oregon: The plan focuses on improving technical assistance and establishing incentives to increase water storage. Pennsylvania: The state of Pennsylvania recommends to implement measures to prevent health-related aspects of drought. Washington: In Washington, the plan focuses on insuring adequate drinking water and fire protections. Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s plan is to minimize threats to public health and safety by anticipating extreme weather events. Virginia: The plan identifies drought as a health-related threat, but does not include specific measures. As I kept reading through more and more state's alleged plans, I kept finding “measures,” but not a lot of action. I was even more shocked that only 9 states had developed preparedness plans. With climate change as an increasing threat, it is truly imperative that all states and local governments address drought as an increasing possibility.
Information from http://www.nrdc.org/health/climate/drought.asp
8 Comments
Jared Potts
17/11/2015 03:25:14 pm
After reading this i am also surprised that not a lot of states are taking action against droughts or climate change. Both of these are very important and possibly life threatening events that occur not often but enough that we should always be prepared for their devastation. every state should act to have water stockpiles in case of emergencies, because in the end, we can't do something about the issue if it has already devastated the world.
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Mark R
18/11/2015 02:38:22 pm
I am from Maryland and I've noticed how droughts affect the farms around where I live. I've also noticed that there has been an increase in farms being closed down and turned into housing developments, how much of that do you think has to do with the climate change as opposed to economic change?
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Farrah
18/11/2015 04:40:21 pm
I think it is rather scary that climate change is creating many more obstacles for the human race. It's surprising that only 9 states are starting to think of ideas to have enough water supplies because what are the rest of the states going to do when the time comes that we are all in a drought? It is important to make sure that we have water as it is stated "water is life" and the human race could not survive with out it.
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Mia
19/11/2015 11:55:52 am
Knowing that climate change is a hot topic and is gradually worsening our surroundings, such as creating stronger catastrophic events and also creating heat waves, it is scary to hear that so little states have actually done anything to prepare for the massive climate change. Sooner or later, water supply is going to be very low, as we are already seeing in California, and this will affect everyone since we need water to survive, whether it be through drinking, the growing of crops, or water for bathing, cooking, or household appliances. It seems that all of the states mentioned above have either thoughts or plans for how to deal with drought, but are taking no steps forward to actually do anything to prepare for or prevent severe damage from the upcoming climate change. People need to realize that they must prepare ahead of time because if they put it off for too long, it's going to be too late by the time the droughts actually come around.
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I was disappointed to learn that Pennsylvania, along with many other states, currently has no emergency plan in case of a drought. Taking into consideration that water is necessary to sustain life, why aren’t more or all states creating an emergency plan in case of a drought? What is causing the states to avoid creating a drought emergency plan?
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Katelyn K.
21/11/2015 09:42:18 am
I am surprised that not even the states as a whole, have come up with emergency plans for drought, but the Country in general doesn't have one in case the worse is to come. After seeing how California was and is, there should be a plan in place or a plan in the making. Water is a necessity to sustain life, if a plan isn't made we will be ruins in the end.
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Nick Maida
22/11/2015 10:37:55 am
As temperature rises and our climate changes, I believe that each state should have a plan for drought. Although some states have plans for drought, I don't believe that they are doing enough to prevent for what could turn into a serious problem.
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spk95
28/11/2015 05:24:11 pm
I am surprised that states such as California, Oregon, and Washington do not have plans that are more concrete and detailed since the Western United States is vulnerable to dryness and drought that causes numerous wildfires and the recent issues that California was and still is experiencing, and let's not forget that this will likely only be exacerbated with continuing climate change. In addition, it's also sad that a majority of states have not even considered how to respond to a drought of any level of meaningful impact...just because a particular region doesn't have a vulnerability to or a history of droughts is no excuse, because with climate change, it is anyone's guess as to what can happen next. Honestly, the whole country needs to get together and discuss not only taking care of this issue, but accepting climate change once and for all and SERIOUSLY deciding what we can and WILL do about it.
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