1、 October 27, 2014 Drought Policy, Response, and Preparedness Congress and other federal, state, and local policymakers are considering whether to maintain or alter current drought policies and programs. At issue are how to prepare for and respond to drought; how to coordinate actions and assign resp
2、onsibilities; and who bears the costs of impacts, disaster response, and long-term adjustment to drought. State and Local Roles in Water Supply The federal government generally defers to state primacy in surface and groundwater allocation; and states and local water entities typically lead efforts t
3、o prepare for drought. As of late 2014, 44 states had drought plans. Most plans center on actions to take during a crisis. Only 13 plans incorporate efforts to reduce vulnerabilities to drought. The reactive nature and inconsistent implementation of many state plans raise questions about their curre
4、nt effectiveness in improving drought resilience. Some states and communities also have invested in reducing water demand and expanding drought-resilient supplies (e.g., through wastewater reuse, desalination, groundwater recharge, groundwater management districts). California, Idaho, and Texas also
