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SECTION 6: DROUGHT <br />HazardDescription.................................................................................................................... 1 <br />Location..................................................................................................................................... 2 <br />Extent........................................................................................................................................ 3 <br />Historical Occurrences............................................................................................................... 5 <br />SignificantEvents................................................................................................................... 8 <br />Probability of Future Events....................................................................................................... 9 <br />Vulnerabilityand Impact............................................................................................................10 <br />Assessment of Impacts..........................................................................................................12 <br />Climate Change Considerations................................................................................................14 <br />HAZARD DESCRIPTION <br />Drought is a period of time without substantial rainfall that <br />persists from one year to the next. Drought is a normal part <br />of virtually all climatic regions, including areas with high and <br />low average rainfall. Drought is the consequence of <br />anticipated natural precipitation reduction over an extended <br />period of time, usually a season or more in length. Droughts <br />can be classified as meteorological, hydrologic, agricultural, <br />and socioeconomic. Table 6-1 presents definitions for these <br />different types of droughts. <br />Droughts are one of the most complex of all natural hazards <br />as it is difficult to determine their precise beginning or end. In addition, droughts can lead to other <br />hazards such as extreme heat and wildfires. Their impact on wildlife and area farming is <br />enormous, often killing crops, grazing land, edible plants, and even in severe cases, trees. A <br />secondary hazard to drought is wildfire because dying vegetation serves as a prime ignition <br />source. Therefore, a heat wave combined with a drought is a very dangerous situation. <br />Table 6-1. Drought Classification Definitions' <br />The degree of dryness or departure of actual precipitation from an <br />expected average or normal amount based on monthly, seasonal, or <br />annual time scales. <br />The effects of precipitation shortfalls on stream flows and reservoir, <br />lake, and groundwater levels. <br />Soil moisture deficiencies relative to water demands of plant life, <br />usually crops. <br />The effect of demands for water exceeding the supply as a result of <br />a weather-related supply shortfall. <br />' Multi -Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment: A Cornerstone of the National Mitigation Strategy, FEMA <br />City of San Marcos I Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Update 2024 1 Page 1 <br />