MSU Extension Emergency Management

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Drought In Michigan

A drought occurs when there is not an adequate amount of rainfall in an area. It usually occurs over an extensive period of time. Droughts are a normal part of Michigan's climate and can occur in areas with either high or low amounts of rainfall. A drought is a multifaceted hazard because many different things can affect its duration. Some factors include geographic extent, location, and demands of humans.

Droughts differ greatly from other natural hazards. One of the main differences is that pinpointing the beginning of a drought can be difficult. The effects of the drought can be long lasting and can still be present after the drought is considered over. The impact of a drought is less visible and can be spread over larger areas then most other hazards. Due to these different factors, many communities do not have in place any plans that address the possibility of a drought.

Impacts of Drought

There are many ways a community can be affected if a drought were to occur. There can be a shortage of water in the area for drinking, agriculture, power generation, or other uses. This is often accompanied by a drop in both the quality and quantity of crops in the area, as well as a drop in the quality of natural bodies of water. Due to a lack of water, there can also be increased numbers of wildfires in the area. These are just a few of the many problems that can occur due to a drought.

Urban areas will suffer because they are more vulnerable to water shortages. This is because of the increased number of people competing for a limited water supply. This is especially true for children and the elderly who may be more affected by the warmer weather. Restrictions may be imposed on watering lawns or washing vehicles.

The rural areas of Michigan can be affected as well. A drought is most influential on the crops and livestock that are found in these areas. The drought can greatly affect the quantity and quality of these crops. This effect on crops can hurt the financial well-being of the people who depend on them. The size of forest fires in the area can also be influenced.

Drought History

From 1998-2001, Michigan experienced a series of droughts. These droughts caused considerable damages to the industries in these areas. In Michigan, during the summer of 2001, a severe drought caused damage to, or destroyed, 1/3 of the state's crops, such as fruits and vegetables. This resulted in a U.S. Department of Agriculture Disaster Declaration that included 82 of Michigan's counties. It also caused water shortages in many of the Southeast counties which forced them to place restrictions on water use.

During 1987 through 1989, another drought affected Michigan. When this drought occurred Michigan took several steps to try and combat potential problems. They placed water use restriction on many communities to ensure that there would be enough for human consumption and firefighting. Also, because of the risk of wildfires, the Governor put in place a statewide outdoor burning ban, which lasted through July of 1988.

The most famous drought in the United States was the "dust bowl" drought that occurred in the 1930's. It was caused by years of land misuse and lack of rain fall. Due to this drought millions of acres of farm land were unusable. It is estimated that a total of $1 billion (in 1930's dollars) was provided to victims of the dust bowl drought. Due to this drought, new practices and farming techniques were put into place to try and prevent such losses in the future.

The links below serve as resources for those looking to find information on droughts.