When the rain doesn’t fall and reservoirs begin to shrink, county leaders are often left asking the same question: What happens when the water isn’t there?
For Elizabeth Ossowski, the answer starts with information — and getting it into the right hands before a crisis hits.
Ossowski, senior program coordinator for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), spoke Saturday to members of the NACo Environment, Energy and Land Use Policy Steering Committee about how counties can move from reacting to drought to preparing for it.
“Drought looks different in Loudoun County, Va. than it does in Brookfield County, Colo.,” she said. “So, the information has to reflect that.”
Created by Congress in 2006 and reauthorized in 2014 and 2019, NIDIS is a multi-agency program led by NOAA. Its mission is to help the nation shift from a reactive approach to a proactive one when it comes to drought risk.
That shift begins with tracking the warning signs: Precipitation levels, soil moisture, reservoir storage and other indicators that signal trouble ahead. By monitoring those measures, local officials can better manage water supplies, prepare for heightened wildfire risk and determine when to activate disaster aid programs, including the Department of Agriculture’s livestock assistance programs.
But drought is not a one-size-fits-all disaster.
Unlike hurricanes or tornadoes, which strike quickly and visibly, drought creeps in and manifests in different ways. It can be meteorological — a prolonged lack of rainfall. It can be hydrologic, when rivers and reservoirs decline. It can be agricultural, damaging crops and pastureland. Or it can become socio-economic, disrupting industries and livelihoods.
“It’s important that the drought information delivered to you is tailored to the various droughts being experienced,” Ossowski told county officials. Decision-making timelines also vary by sector, she noted — from farmers making seasonal planting choices to water managers planning years ahead.
NIDIS serves as what Ossowski called the federal government’s “front door for drought information.” In addition to coordinating federal research, the program operates a national drought early warning system built around regional networks designed to reflect local conditions.
On April 9, NIDIS will launch the Mid-Atlantic Drought Early Warning System, covering West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
For county officials seeking localized data, drought.gov offers ZIP code–specific information, maps and statistics, along with regional newsletters. The website’s redesign was done in part in consultation with NACo to better support county-level decision-making, she noted.
Looking ahead, NIDIS is building a drought-planning platform aimed at helping communities translate data into action. The effort is being piloted in the Four Corners states — New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah — where drought planning, hazard mitigation, water management and land use decisions are closely intertwined.
The platform is expected to expand nationally by the end of 2026, with the goal of making drought information not just accessible, but usable.