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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 102 <br />There have been three (3) notable droughts in Kittitas County between 2013 and 2023, listed in Table 4- <br />44. <br />Table 4-44. Drought Past Events <br />Date Description <br />2023 <br />The State of Washington ranked as the fourth warmest and 11th driest period since 1895 <br />between May and June; the State received 49% of the usual rainfall. Early snowmelt, a <br />lack of spring rain, and low stream flows prompted the Washington State Department of <br />Ecology to declare a drought emergency in 12 counties, including Kittitas County, on <br />June 5, 2023.111F <br />111 <br />2021 <br />On July 14, 2021, the State of Washington Department of Ecology declared a drought <br />emergency for most of the State, including Kittitas County, after a historically dry spring <br />and summer, followed by a record-breaking heat wave, affected water supplies.112F <br />112 <br />2015 <br />This drought was a result of the “snowpack drought”, unlike classic droughts that are <br />characterized by extended precipitation deficits. Between October and March, the <br />average statewide temperatures were 4.7°F above the 20th century long-term average, <br />ranking as the warmest October through March on record. The State experienced record <br />low snowpack because mountain precipitation fell as rain, instead of snow. In early <br />spring and into the summer, the snowpack deficit was exacer bated as precipitation <br />amounts remained at below normal levels. A combination of record spring and summer <br />temperatures and little to no precipitation, the snowpack drought turned into a traditional <br />precipitation drought. On March 13, 2015, a drought emergency was declared for some <br />regions including Kittitas County; however, the declaration was extended statewide on <br />May 15, 2015. The USDA reported over $336 Million in agricultural impacts statewide.113F <br />113 <br />4.6.3.6. Vulnerability and Impacts <br />Life Safety and Health: The entire population of Kittitas County is vulnerable to drought events. <br />Increased temperatures that are expected in drought conditions pose a threat to health and life safety. <br />Heat stress, a recurrent health problem for vulnerable residents, has been the leading weather -related <br />cause of death in the United States since 1986. Furthermore, disruptions to electricity and water supplies <br />will exacerbate these health problems. Residential and commercial heating, ventilation, and air <br />conditioning (HVAC) systems can malfunction from water shortages that result from drought, exposing <br />vulnerable populations to extreme heat.114F <br />114 Other possible impacts include recreational risks; effects on <br />air quality; diminished living conditions related to energy, air quality, and hygiene; compromised food and <br />nutrition; and increased incidence of illness and disease.115F <br />115 Droughts can also lead to reduced local <br />firefighting capabilities. <br /> <br />Property Damage and Critical Infrastructure: Property will not be directly affected by drought <br />conditions. However, some structures may become vulnerable to wildfires, which are more prevalent <br /> <br />111 State of Washington Department of Ecology. (2023). Ecology Declares Drought Emergency for 12 Counties. <br />Retrieved from https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/july-24-ecology-declares-drought- <br />emergency-in-12-counties. <br />112 State of Washington Department of Ecology. (2021). Ecology Declares Drought Emergency. Retrieved from <br />https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/2021-drought-declaration. <br />113 State of Washington Department of Ecology. (2016). 2015 Drought Response Summary Report. Retrieved <br />from https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/documents/1611001.pdf. <br />114 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. (2021). Drought and Infrastructure: A Planning Guide. <br />Retrieved from <br />https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Drought_and_Infrastructure_A_Planning_Guide_508c.pdf . <br />115 National Integrated Drought Information System. (n.d.). Drought.gov, By Sector: Public Health. Retrieved from <br />https://www.drought.gov/sectors/public-health.