Special Drought Webinar for West Virginia and Ohio: September 27, 2024

Welcome to the Special Drought Webinar for West Virginia and Ohio

Speaker: Veva Deheza | NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

• Our webinar program today will include a summary of the current drought conditions in West Virginia and Ohio as well as a short- term forecast and longer- term outlooks. We will also learn about potential and ongoing impacts from the drought that cut across communities and sectors. State and Federal agency leaders will also share government response, relief efforts, and resources. 
• For our first session, Current Drought Conditions and Outlooks for Fall 2024, we will hear an overview of the drought’s evolution and progression, current conditions, and the seasonal outlooks for fall and winter weather, as well as the outlook for the fall fire season.

Current Drought Conditions and Outlooks for Fall 2024

Summary of Recent Conditions: How Did This Drought Evolve? 

Speaker: Brad Rippey | USDA Office of the Chief Economist

• There are large areas of Extreme (D3) or Exceptional (D4) Drought in Ohio and West Virginia. 
• Since 2000, some of the worst droughts in West Virginia occurred in 2001–2022, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2019, and now in 2023–2024, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
• June–August 2024 was West Virginia’s 5th driest summer on record (since 1895).
• March 2023–August 2024 was West Virginia's driest such period since 1987–1988. 
• Over the past 50 years, we have seen rising temperatures in West Virginia (and globally).

Monitoring Current Conditions

Speaker: Samantha Borisoff | Northeast Regional Climate Center

• Some locations have a precipitation deficit of up to 9 inches between June 1–September 24.
• June 1–September 24 ranks among the 20 driest and hottest such periods.
• Current rainfall will be accounted for in this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor.
• Warm temperatures contributed to increased evapotranspiration rates and dry soils.
• Well below-normal and record low streamflow and groundwater levels are present in multiple areas.
• For more information, visit the Northeast Regional Climate Center website or email nrcc@cornell.edu. 

Seasonal Drought Outlook: Fall to Winter Precipitation and Temperature

Speaker: Brad Pugh | NOAA’s National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center

• Rainfall associated with Helene may provide short-term improvement, especially across southern West Virginia.
• La Niña is favored to emerge in September–November (71% chance). If La Niña develops, then above-normal precipitation would become more probable across Ohio and West Virginia this winter. This would favor more widespread drought improvement.
• The Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlooks for October–December (issued September 19) indicate equal chances of above-, below-, or near-normal precipitation for West Virginia and southern Ohio, with slightly increased chances for above-normal precipitation in northern Ohio. Odds slightly favor above-normal temperatures in both states.
• The December–February outlooks show increased probabilities for above-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures in the region.
• The Climate Prediction Center’s Monthly Drought Outlook for October and an updated Seasonal Drought Outlook will be released on September 30.
• NOAA’s winter outlook will be released on October 17.

Outlooks for the Fall Fire Season

Speaker: Stephen Marien | National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

• The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) refers to central Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs). ENSO neutral conditions will likely persist through the rest of the fall with La Nina conditions developing this winter.
  • In a La Niña winter, there’s typically a wetter trend in this area.
• Other SST regimes affect overall weather patterns: North Atlantic Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Arctic Oscillation.
• NIFC Predictive Services produces temperature and precipitation outlooks, which currently predict above-normal (or near-normal) temperatures for this region for October–January. The precipitation outlooks predict below-normal precipitation in October, near- to above-normal in November, and near-normal in December–January.
• The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is still working on an updated significant wildland fire potential outlook for October. This will be released on Tuesday, October 1.
  • We may not include Ohio and West Virginia as areas with significant wildland fire potential, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see fire activity if we see drying conditions return as we move into October.
• View current NIFC significant wildland fire potential outlooks.

Drought Impacts: Discussion of Impacts, Responses, and Strategies for Resilience

Drought Impacts Observed in West Virginia

Speaker: Nick Webb, National Weather Service, Charleston, West Virginia

• Hydrologic Impacts:
  • Streamflow is low to very low compared to average across much of the state.
  • Several reservoir lake levels are well below summer pools.
  • Many residential and agricultural wells were reported dry.
• Agricultural Impacts:
  • Low soil moisture resulted in stunted crop growth in many parts of the state.
  • There have been considerable crop yield losses, particularly in the western, central, and eastern panhandle of the state:
    • Lack of hay resulted in supplemental feeding.
    • Significant early sales of livestock.
  • Hauling of water for livestock has occurred across many parts of the state.
• Fire Hazard Impacts:
  • There has been increased brush fire activity with increased fire danger since August.
  • This is amplified on days with wind and low relative humidity.
  • Many county burn bans were initiated in September.

Agricultural Impacts in West Virginia

Speaker: Brad Rippey | USDA Office of the Chief Economist

• USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Crop Progress & Condition Reports:
  • West Virginia Field Office
  • Ohio Field Office
• Fields are brown. Creeks are mostly dry now. Farming activities this week included weaning calves, hauling water to stock tanks, and planting winter wheat.
• In West Virginia, 95% of pasture and range conditions are rated poor to very poor. For Ohio, it’s 93%.
• In West Virginia, 100% of topsoil moisture and 100% of subsoil moisture is rated short to very short. For Ohio, it’s 95% (topsoil) and 94% (subsoil). 
• The last several weeks in West Virginia have marked the first time the state hit 100% of topsoil moisture short to very short since the drought of the late 1980s.

Drought Impacts Across Ohio

Speaker: Aaron Wilson | State Climatologist of Ohio

• This has been one of Ohio’s most impactful droughts.
• Ohio has experienced all types of drought (meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, ecological, and socio-economic).
• Impacts will continue to be felt despite the current weather pattern.
• Water resources have been challenged but appear robust.
• Resources:
  • Drought Conditions and Resources - go.osu.edu/Ohiodrought
  • Newsletters (Agronomic Crops Team, Farm Office, Beef Cattle, Ohio VegNetNews)
  • State Climate Office of Ohio - climate.osu.edu/drought

Ecological Impacts of Drought

Speaker: Erin Lane | USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station

• Drought impacts our region even when the data and evidence show the region getting wetter.
• There are tools to support decisions and analysis.
• Current ecological impacts include: 
  • Risk of wildfire extent and severity
  • Links between wildlife and farms
  • Aquatic systems
  • Forest stress

Water Supply Issues

Speaker: Breanna Barto | Ohio Rural Water Association

• The Ohio Rural Water Association is a nonprofit, member-based organization that provides technical assistance, education, and support services to Ohio’s small and rural water and wastewater utilities.
• Drought impacts to public water systems:
  • Decreased water availability
  • Potential water quality issues
  • Increased demand
  • Infrastructure under stress
  • Challenged with leak detection
  • Maintenance delays
  • In event of fire, water supply can be depleted
  • Harmful algal blooms
  • Water conservation measures
• The Ohio Rural Water Association encourages and assists utilities to adopt a plan for drought conditions with:
  • Source water protection planning
  • Asset management
  • Drought response plans

State and Federal Government Resources 

View a list of the resources mentioned during the webinar.

Drought Considerations for Emergency Management

Speaker: Matthew Blackwood | State of West Virginia Emergency Management

• Summary of actions for drought activities: 
  • Mitigation:
    • Include drought in hazard mitigation planning
    • Improve infrastructure
    • Explore land use planning
    • Implement enhanced forecasting
    • Educate the public on efforts
    • Consider conservation measures
  • Preparedness:
    • Include drought in hazard mitigation plan
    • Review and update plans
    • Coordinate with agencies
    • Conduct training and exercise
  • Response:
    • Review legal authorities
    • Review federal programs
    • Coordinate response efforts
    • Monitor secondary consequences
  • Recovery:
    • Maintain situational awareness
    • Open communication
    • Share information, listen
    • Coordinate funding options.
• Plan is a verb, not just a noun. Involve the whole community. Communicate! 
• View more information from the West Virginia Emergency Management.

Ohio Drought Response

Speaker: Brian Baldridge and Robert Hamilton | State of Ohio Department of Agriculture

• Ohio Drought Workgroup:
  • Co-chaired by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and Ohio Department Agriculture, this workgroup formalizes coordination among state agencies and partners that have a vested interest. 
• Ohio Department of Agriculture drought resources web page:
  • Drought resources information card
  • Ohio Hay Directory
  • Social media posts
  • Farm Science Review

FEMA Drought and Wildfire Resources

Speaker: Bill Kuhn | West Virginia Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integration Team (WV FIT), Charleston, WV; FEMA Region 3

• FEMA has two limited recovery programs with adverse economic impacts following a drought: 
  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance
  • Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Mitigation Grant Opportunities: 
  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and HMGP Post Fire: Post-disaster funding
  • Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC): Competitive annual disaster grant funding opportunity
  • Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund
• Takeaways:
  • Encourage your community to adopt your local hazard mitigation plan. Of 300, nearly 120 jurisdictions in West Virginia have not—limits access to funding.
  • Support mitigation plan integration with your comprehensive plans.
  • Provide feedback and drought evidence (loss data and project identification) to your Regional Planning and Development Councils for input into local and state hazard mitigation plans.
  • Jurisdictions should ensure mutual aid agreements are up to date and exercised.
  • Protect your home and property by creating defensible space using Marshall Fire MAT Homeowner's Guide to Reducing Wildfire Risk through Defensible Space.

EPA Drought Resources

Speaker: Patti Kay Wisniewski | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3

• Drought and Wildfire Resources:
  • Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU)
  • Incident Action Checklists (prepare, respond, and recovery actions)
  • Drought Resilience
  • Wildfires
  • Upcoming resilience grant opportunity: Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program
• Climate and Funding Resources: 
  • Climate Resilience and Adaptation Funding Toolbox: CRAFT is a user-friendly resource for technical assistance providers working with federal funding applicants and recipients to develop, apply for and implement climate-resilient investments.

USDA Farm Service Agency Drought Programs

Speaker: Kelly DeLucy | U.S. Department of Agriculture West Virginia Farm Service Agency

• USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has several drought programs available to most of West Virginia and Ohio, at this time:
  • Grazing losses
  • Emergency water systems
  • Transportation costs associated with additional water and feed
  • Transportation costs associated with movement of livestock to other farms
  • Crop insurance
• USDA/FSA drought programs:
  • Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)
  • Emergency Assistance For Livestock, Honey Bees, And Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
  • Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)
  • Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Low interest Emergency Loans help producers who suffer qualifying farm-related losses directly caused by the disaster in a county declared or designated as a primary disaster area.
  • Loans can help producers replace essential property; purchase inputs like livestock, equipment, feed and seed; cover family living expenses or refinance farm-related debts; and other needs. 
  • Certain eligibility criteria must be met for the emergency loans; contact your local FSA County Office for details.
• Producers should contact their local FSA Office to schedule an appointment. 
• Local office contact information can be found at farmers.gov. 

Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance: Understanding the Disaster Program

Speaker: Eric Wall | Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, U.S. Small Business Administration

• The SBA is authorized to make disaster declarations as a result of certain disasters that occur within counties.
• If you are a non-agriculture business and can show you have economic damage as a result of the declared disaster event for your county, you may be eligible for SBA disaster loans.
• Types of SBA disaster loans:
  • Business Loans 
  • Economic Injury Loans
  • Home Loans 
  • Mitigation
• Loan and insurance requirements:
  • Eligibility: Damaged property must be in a declared area.
  • Credit history: Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to the SBA.
  • Repayment: Applicants must show the ability to repay all loans. 
  • Borrowers must obtain and maintain appropriate insurance as a condition of most loans.
• The application process:
  • Apply directly to SBA via the MySBA Loan Portal.
    • Determine your eligibility.
  • Register with FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Filing deadline for physical damage: 60 days from declaration date
  • Filing deadline for economic injury: 9 months from the declaration date

Closing

Speaker: Veva Deheza, NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)