Drought Continues in Western Panhandle

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a drought emergency for parts of southwestern Oklahoma and a portion of the far western Panhandle.

Despite recent rainfall across much of Oklahoma, information released Tuesday by the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates extreme-to-exceptional drought conditions in the western part of the state. The counties included in the drought emergency are Jackson, Tillman, Greer, Harmon and Texas.

Fallin says the five counties have faced three straight years of unrelenting drought. The governor says it’s not merely an inconvenience and that many residents have experienced real economic hardship.

Fallin says state funds are being made available to provide drought assistance in the affected counties. Oklahoma’s new Emergency Drought Relief Fund, created last year, includes grant funding for drought mitigation projects.