U.S. Drought Portal Offers Maps, Info on Dry Weather Impact

From the dry conditions that fueled California's wildfires to low rainfall and water shortages in the Southeast, drought has affected millions of people across the U.S. this year. To help both citizens and public officials better understand drought conditions in their areas, the federal government has just unveiled a new online tool: the U.S. Drought Portal.

The portal, also known as the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), was designed to provide early warnings for emerging drought conditions, let users know about the risks and impacts of droughts in their areas, help managers better prepare for and deal with the effects of drought and offer an online forum for people to discuss drought-related issues.

"The new portal site provides all the information that managers need in one location, and delivers unprecedented access to key operational drought resources to answer the most pressing questions facing policymakers, emergency planners, businesses and the public," said Conrad Lautenbacher, an administrator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a retired Navy vice admiral and undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. "Everyone now has the ability to learn facts they need: What are the current drought conditions, its effects and when will it end?"

While NOAA took the lead in developing the drought portal, many other agencies are also participating in the system. They include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Small Business Administration and many others.

"The drought-related emergencies in the Southeast and Southern California underscore the importance of having timely, accessible, and actionable information on drought from the national to the local level," said Chester Koblinsky, director of NOAA's Climate Program Office.

"The U.S. Drought Portal centralizes drought information in an unprecedented manner, and paves the way for planned early warning system development pilots in select watersheds and states across the U.S.," added Roger Pulwarty, director of the NIDIS program office.

The drought portal lets visitors view current drought conditions across the country, see what impacts their states and counties are experiencing, view drought photos from the hardest-hit states, learn more about past incidents of drought going back hundreds of years and more, and find links to educational resources for both schoolchildren and the general public. Between now and 2013, the Website will be expanded to include more detailed forecasting capabilities, references on drought research and more planning and preparedness resources.

Agencies helping to develop the U.S. drought portal are also working to develop monitoring, early-warning and response capabilities for droughts across North America and around the globe.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "New, Interactive Web Site -- www.drought.gov -- Tracks Drought." URL: (http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/20071101_droughtportal.html)