Drought in the United States: Causes and Issues for Congress

Drought is a natural hazard with potentially significant societal, economic, and environmental consequences. Public policy issues related to drought range from how to identify and measure drought to how best to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate drought impacts, and who should bear associated costs. This report provides information relevant to drought policy discussions by describing the physical causes of drought, drought history in the United States, examples of regional drought conditions, and policy challenges related to drought. By summer 2012, drought has extended across nearly two-thirds of the United States and has adversely affected agricultural producers. As of mid-July 2012, more than 1,000 counties have been designated as disaster counties by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

The designation makes qualified farmers and ranchers eligible for low-interest emergency loans. The 2012 drought is fueling interest in near-term issues, such as current (and recently expired) federal programs and their funding, and long-term issues, such as improving drought forecasting and the mix of drought relief and mitigation actions and federal water project and agency preparedness and role in relief. What is drought? Drought is commonly defined as a lack of precipitation over an extended period, usually a season or more, relative to some long-term average condition. History suggests that severe and extended droughts are inevitable and part of natural climate cycles. While forecast technology and science have improved, regional predictions remain limited to a few months in advance.