Hazard Vulnerability Assessment

Drought:

General information index. Also see current hazard mitigation

Since 1999 Alexander County and Taylorsville, as well as the majority of North Carolina cities, towns and counties have faced a moderate to severe drought.

Drought has several meanings, as outlined in the general information index.
Generally, drought reduces the amount of water available for agriculture, municipalities, industry, commerce, tourism, fire suppression, and wildlife. Reduction of electrical power generation and water quality deterioration is likely.

Water shortages in some communities have had dramatic effects on local budgets, revenues, and citizens. Near panic situations among some members of the public, have caused elected officials to spend considerable revenue to assist the public.

As drought continued in North Carolina into the summer of 2002, it led to a declaration of disaster for agriculture drought. This led to funding becoming available for many farmers in the form of Small Business Administration low interest loans.
 

 
The Drought Monitoring Council, a council of various state agencies, is organized to coordinate activities of state agencies in the assessment and the response to drought and activates the Drought Assessment and Response Plan, a part of the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan. The Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 may provide assistance to the agriculture community during times of crop or livestock losses during drought periods.
 
Drought effects are often severe. Drought can last for extended periods and drought effects all citizens, businesses and government. Alexander County and Taylorsville governments have the authority to restrict use of certain water resources. These restrictions and how they are imposed are found in ordinance.

** Estimated potential economic Impact from a catastrophic, prolonged meteorological, agricultural, hydrological or  socioeconomic drought. 

Structural Damage (generally due to loss from fire or abandonment) $13,440,000
Non - structural (i.e. crop damages, livestock losses, etc.) $8,800,000
Contents $1,000,000
Lost inventory (livestock losses, business losses-fire) $3,050,000
Capital losses $2,750,000
Wages lost (fire, agriculture loss, abandonment) $7,500,000
($)Water demand increased costs $6,282,279
Total Potential Losses $42,726,279

*** The summer of 2002 was (to date) the driest summer in North Carolina History. Alexander County was listed in Extreme drought conditions.

 

($) Highest 25% of Water Bills for Households with Median Income
* Avg income =23,738. Avg household expense for water =1.0% $237.38 per annum)
based on an median cost increase per household of 2.5%
Source: Public Utility Consulting Selinsgrove, PA

Source
(**Based upon total tax value (Alexander County Tax Department) at a maximum loss of 1% of total tax value or actual estimated losses)
(*** NCDC and NOAA 2002)