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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Kittitas County, Washington There have been three (3) notable droughts in Kittitas County between 2013 and 2023,listed in Table 4- 44. Table 444. Drought Past Events 4.6.3.6. Vulnerability and Impacts Life Safety and Health: The entire population of Kittitas County is vulnerable to drought events. lncreased temperatures that are expected in drought conditions pose a threat to health and life safety. Heat stress, a recurrent health problem for vulnerable residents, has been the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States since 1986. Furthermore, disruptions to electricity and water supplies will exacerbate these health problems. Residential and commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can malfunction from water shortages that result from drought, exposing vulnerable populations to extreme heat..11a Other possible impacts include recreational risks; effects on air quality; diminished living conditions related to energy, air quality, and hygiene; compromised food and nutrition; and increased incidence of illness and disease.-115 Droughts can also lead to reduced local firefighting capabilities. Property Damage and Critical lnfrastructure: Property will not be directly affected by drought conditions. However, some structures may become vulnerable to wildfires, which are more prevalent 111 State of Washington Department of Ecology. (2023). Ecology Declares Drought Emergency for 12 Counties. Retrieved from https://ecoloqv.wa.qov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/iulv-24-ecoloqv-declares-drouqht- emerqencv-in-1 2-counties. 112 State of Washington Department of Ecology. (2021). Ecology Declares Drought Emergency. Retrieved from https://ecoloqv.wa.qov/about-us/who-we-are/news/202112021-drouqht-declaration. 113 State of Washington Department of Ecology. (2016). 2015 Drought Response Summary Report. Retrieved from https://apps.ecoloqv.wa.qov/pu blications/documents/1 6 1 1 00 1 . pdf . 11a Cybersecurity and lnfrastructure Security Agency. (2021). Drought and lnfrastructure: A Planning Guide. Retrieved from https://www.cisa.qov/sites/defaulVfiles/publications/Drouqhland lnfrastructure A Planninq Guide 508c.pdf . 115 National lntegrated Drought lnformation System. (n.d.). Drought.gov, By Sector: Public Health. Retrieved from https ://www.d rouq ht. gov/secto rsipu bl ic-health. The State of Washington ranked as the fourth warmest and 1 1th driest period since 1895 between May and June; the State received 49% of the usual rainfall. Early snowmelt, a lack of spring rain, and low stream flows prompted the Washington State Depaftment of Ecology to declare a drought emergency in 12 counties, including Kittitas County, on June 5. 2023.-111 2023 2021 On July 14,2021, the State of Washington Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency for most of the State, including Kittitas County, after a historically dry spring and summer, followed by a record-breaking heat wave, affected water suppliss..112 2015 This drought was a result of the "snowpack drought", unlike classic droughts that are characterized by extended precipitation deficits. Between October and March, the average statewide temperatures were 4.7"F above the 20th century long-term average, ranking as the warmest October through March on record. The State experienced record low snowpack because mountain precipitation fell as rain, instead of snow. ln early spring and into the summer, the snowpack deficit was exacerbated as precipitation amounts remained at below normal levels. A combination of record spring and summer temperatures and little to no precipitation, the snowpack drought turned into a traditional precipitation drought. On March 13,2015, a drought emergency was declared for some regions including Kittitas County; however, the declaration was extended statewide on May 15,2015. The USDAreported over$336 Million in agriculturalimpacts statewide.113 DescriptionDate Chapter 4: Hazard ldentification and Risk Assessment 102