This document discusses responses to the 2012 drought in the USA. It examines short, mid, and long-term responses across various factors. In the short-term, emergency assistance programs were allowed to provide rescue and relief. In the mid-term, agricultural practices were adjusted through programs to support farmers and ranchers undergoing rehabilitation. For long-term reconstruction, infrastructure like dams and reservoirs were adjusted and water banks were instituted to help rebuild after the effects of the drought. A variety of initiatives across water use, storage, movement and agriculture were implemented by states and communities.

1. USA Drought
2012
Wakako Kobayashi,
Tae Eun Kim, and
Daniel Um

2. Introduction

3. Introduction

4. Population Pyramid

5. Adjustments Before

6. Attitudes
• Do Nothing and Accept
• Adjust
• Leave

7. Factors
Water Use
Storing/Moving
Livestock/Crops
Society Economy Environment Wellbeing

8. Water Use
• Water Recycling
• Water Saving Appliances
• Water Saving Initiatives

9. Texas
• Houston implemented a comprehensive conservation
program that included an education program,
plumbing retrofits, audits, leak detection, and
conservation planning.

10. Storing and Moving
• Dams
• Groundwater/Wells
• Canals/Pipelines
• Desalination

11. Las Vegas
• Lake Mead was created to provide water for
Las Vegas

12. Livestock/Crops
• Xeriscaping
• Decrease livestock
o (Animals don't eat to the roots)

13. USA Crop Switching Initiative
• As a response to the drought in California,
many USA states switching to organic local
crops to reduce soil degradation
o Reduced soil degradation means slower
infiltration, which means the soil can hold in more
water and needs less.

14. Responses to US Drought

15. Factors
Rescue
Rehabilitation
Reconstruction
Environment Social Wellbeing Economy

16. Rescue (Short-term response)
• Allow access to
federally backed
emergency
assistance programs
• Federal crop
insurance program
Political and Economic
Factors

17. Rehabilitation (Mid-term response)
• Adjust irrigation and agricultural practices
• Emergency Conservation Program helped farmers/
ranchers
Social and Economic Factors

18. Reconstruction (Long-term
response)
• Adjustments to
structures
• Federal water
resource facilities
(dams, reservoirs,
locks, etc.)
• Instituted water
banks
Economic Factors

19. Conclusion

20. Bibliography
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/drought
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/drought
http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtBasics/TypesofDrought.aspx
http://environment.about.com/od/environmentalevents/a/
whatisdrought.htm
http://eden.lsu.edu/Topics/hazards/Drought/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.dsc.nrsc.gov.in/DSC/Drought/index.jsp?
include1=homelink2_b1.jsp&&include2=homelink2_b2.jsp
http://threeissues.sdsu.edu/three_issues_droughtfacts01.html
http://www.odpem.org.jm/DisastersDoHappen/
TypesofHazardsDisasters/Droughts/LearnMoreAboutDrought/tabid/
286/Default.aspx