Public Health Preparedness for Drought: Engaging and Equipping Stakeholders

Drought is one of the costliest and deadliest climate-related disasters in the United States. While it is not typically associated with negative human health outcomes, these pathways do exist. In communities or areas that rely on the local environment for subsistence, mental and behavioral health can be impacted due to stress. Drought can reduce air quality which can lead to significant negative outcomes for those who suffer from respiratory illnesses. It can also decrease access to clean and abundant drinking water. Drought is associated with periods of extreme heat that can exacerbate local emergency response and individual recovery efforts, especially in marginalized communities. As public health departments are responsible for addressing and monitoring many of these issues, it is important for them to be engaged in drought preparedness and response activities.

To better integrate with public health on drought issues, NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System's (NIDIS) recently published "Drought and Public Health Roadmap for Advancing Engagement and Preparedness". Our presentation will focus on the creation of this document and address opportunities to integrate drought into public health planning. We will also identify communication and outreach tools that can be applied by public health professionals and those responsible for broader natural hazard response planning.