8 September 2004

Governor Upgrades Drought Status across State

Abundant rainfall in June and July coupled with record low temperatures in August prompted Governor Kathleen Sebelius today to upgrade the drought status of counties across the state through Executive Order 04-09. Only 15 counties in northwestern Kansas remain in the drought watch or warning categories.

“After seeing the effects of drought first-hand earlier this summer, I know how much this rain means to Kansas farmers and to homeowners,” says Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. “It is good news that though the U.S. Climate Prediction Center outlook in June predicted the drought would spread into south-central Kansas, that did not occur.” The outlook through November calls for limited improvement in northwest Kansas.

The Governor’s action places Cheyenne, Decatur, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman and Thomas counties in the Drought Warning category; and Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Phillips, Rooks, Smith, Trego and Wallace counties in the Drought Watch category. The rest of the state has no drought declaration.

“Western Kansas has been hit hard by the prolonged drought,” says Gov. Sebelius. “While complete recovery will take additional, above-normal rainfall, conditions are much improved, particularly in the southwest, compared to earlier this summer.”

Specific local and state response actions are tied to each drought stage (Watch or Warning). A Watch alerts citizens to drought conditions and encourages them to take voluntary steps to conserve water. A Warning encourages communities to limit non-essential water use as necessary.