Drought conditions continue to intensify for Kansas which led Governor Sam Brownback to update the Drought Declaration for Kansas counties with an Executive Order 12-08 today. The update includes all 105 counties either in an emergency, warning or watch status.
�??Dry, windy and above normal temperatures in Kansas have led to a Drought Emergency declaration for 36 counties,�?� Governor Brownback said. �??Below normal precipitation patterns are not only depleting available soil moisture, but these types of conditions have resulted in numerous fires as well.�?�
The updated drought declaration has 36 counties in an emergency status, 55 counties in a warning status and 14 in watch status. This action was recommended by Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor�??s Drought Response Team.
�??The insidious effects of the continued drought across much of the state have caused stream flow in many areas to drop below median levels,�?� Streeter said. �??It is imperative we monitor conditions for the state as they could deteriorate quickly with no reserves.�?�
It is important to also note that farmers and ranchers need to keep open dialogue with their local County Emergency Boards as they continue to monitor crop conditions for losses that may have occurred due to drought, severe storms and hail throughout the State.
This Executive Order shall remain in effect for those counties so identified until rescinded by Executive Order or superseded by a subsequent Executive Order revising the drought stage status of the affected counties. Effective immediately:
?� Declare a Drought Emergency, Warning or Drought Watch for the counties identified below;
?� Authorize and direct all agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor to implement the appropriate watch or warning level-drought response actions assigned in the Operations Plan of the Governor�??s Drought Response Team.
The Governor�??s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the effects the drought has on Kansans.
For more detailed information about current conditions, see the Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report on the Kansas Water Office website at: www.kwo.org
County Drought Stage Declarations:
Drought Emergency:
Barton, Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Finney, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, Wichita
Drought Warning:
Allen, Anderson, Barber, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Clark, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Comanche, Dickinson, Douglas, Edwards, Ellsworth, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewel, Johnson, Kingman, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Linn, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Miami, Mitchell, Morris, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Rice, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Smith, Stafford, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Washington, Woodson, Wyandotte
Drought Watch:
Atchison, Brown, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Doniphan, Elk, Labette, Marshall, Montgomery, Nemaha, Neosho, Wilson