Breaking the Hydro-Illogical Cycle: Progress or Status Quo for Drought Management in the United States

Drought is a naturally occurring event that is associated with virtually all climatic regions. Given its slow onset and other characteristics, including its spatial dimensions and duration, impacts are difficult to assess and have been, historically, poorly documented. These impacts are strongly influenced by a society’s exposure to the hazard and the vulnerability of that society to the hazard. This vulnerability is continually changing in response to increasing population, land use changes, technology, government policies, and many other factors. Therefore, each drought event is superimposed on a society with differing vulnerabilities than existed when the previous drought event occurred. Drought impacts are increasing worldwide, both as a result of these changing vulnerabilities and, perhaps, because of an increase in the frequency, severity, and duration of drought events. To lessen societal vulnerability, it is imperative for nations to move away from the crisis management approach to drought management, often characterized by the hydro-illogical cycle, and toward a more proactive, risk-based approach, including the adoption of national drought policies that reflect this new paradigm. Emphasis must be given to the development of improved drought monitoring and early warning systems and the delivery of this information to decision makers at all levels. It is also essential that vulnerability assessments be conducted in order to determine who and what is at risk and why. A final step is the identification and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures or actions that will reduce future impacts on economic sectors and population groups. The goal of this process is to develop drought preparedness plans well in advance of a drought event in order to enhance the coping capacity of society and reduce impacts. National drought policies that promote this concept as an essential part of drought management are encouraged for all drought-prone nations. This paper reviews recent progress in the United States toward a more risk-based approach to drought management and the formulation of a national drought policy. The lessons learned from the United States may be applicable to other nations who are trying to adopt a more risk-based management approach.