The proactive preparation and mitigation measures for drought in the United States are provided in cooperation with the US Department of the Interior's Geological Survey(USGS), the US Department of Agriculture(USDA), NOAA under the US Department of Commerce and the National Weather Service(NWS).

Drought Policy

The National Drought Policy Act (1998) and the National Integrated Drought Information System Act(2006) were enacted to develop national drought management integrated system.

The federal, state, and local communities are working with various agencies to exchange information and drought alert system with each region for drought early warning, monitoring, and mitigation.

They developed a regional drought early warning system and provide standardized information on drought conditions and drought alerts throughout the United States via the U.S. Drought Portal.

Drought Management Organization and System

National Drought Mitigation Center(NDMC)

In 1995, University of Nebraska-Lincoln established the National Drought Mitigation Center in cooperation with the federal government and has played a main role in drought management in the United States.

NDMC analyzes weekly drought conditions using collectively six types of drought indices to divide drought condition into five stages and provides drought information to Climate Prediction Center (CPC), USDA, and water-related agencies of local governments.

Drought Severity Classification

Drought-related Climate Change Adaptation Policy

• Implementing drought mitigation plans on local, state, federal, and hydrological watershed scales
• Establishing risk mitigation plans for the potential impact of rising temperatures due to climate change
• Realizing of sustainable water management by building national water culture
• Including stakeholders in the hydrological watershed in the process of drought mitigation planning
• Promoting of public education reflecting local conditions
• Developing an automated hydrological and meteorological data collection system
• Reflecting future climate and water management scenarios as a risk-based approach
• Promoting scientific understanding of drought
• Establishing water resource management and drought mitigation plans using the water pricing system appropriately
• Efficiently collecting data and making decisions

In 1973, the United Kingdom began to focus on the management of integrated water resources management through the revision of water related laws. The Environment Agency oversees the comprehensive management of water resources including water utilization, flood control, the regulation of stream environment and water quality. It determines the final drought area by analyzing various data such as river water level, flow rate, watershed precipitation, and groundwater level, etc.

Drought Policy

State of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has mainly three duties as an administrative department of making and executing drought management policy, and of being responsible for the integrated water management.

• Restricting excessive intake from rivers to damage to environment
• Implementing appropriate measures to ensure that water companies supply water without destroying environment
• Implementation of drought plans for water companies, water conservation planning, environmental impact assessment and future water resources acquisition

It also establishes drought plans as a basis of drought management policies and plans, and includes guidance on water resources management in case of drought, related organizations and roles.

Drought Management Organization and Response

Drought Stage Estimation Criteria

• Identify hydrological and environmental factors that can affect drought-related industries and regions
• Based on the supply forecast, it is analyzed whether there is a possibility that the situation will deteriorate at what time and season when drought occurs
• An analysis of the appropriate measures to be taken by the EPA and the water company in response to the drought plan
• Understanding of general residents and mass media interest in drought situations and overcoming drought through various media campaign fields

Drought Response Process

Drought Policy

Australia's National Drought Policy was enacted in 1992 and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries handles drought policy as a part of its agricultural policies.

It recognizes drought as a farming issue and the government supports farmers to manage drought in exceptional circumstances.

Drought Management Organization and Response

Drought Stage

Drought Policy

Japan operates a water management system that predicts droughts and manages water resources by river basin. The Japan River Council is proposing to secure drought safety through basic drought policies. In order to establish comprehensive drought countermeasures in each region, it is promoting stable water resources and rationalization of water use.

Drought Stage Prevention Measures