South Carolina Drought News Release
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Land, Water and Conservation Division
South Carolina Drought Response Program
Department of Natural Resources News (803) 734-4133
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE #99 - August 11, 1999
MODERATE DROUGHT DECLARED FOR ALL SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources issued a moderate drought declaration for
all South Carolina counties after meeting with the S.C. Drought Response Committee
today in Columbia.
The S.C. Drought Response Committee is comprised of representatives from state and
federal agencies.
A moderate drought declaration, the second of four drought levels specified in the
Drought Response Act of 1985, means drought conditions have continued to
deteriorate and are expected to persist. As a result, the Land, Water and Conservation
Division of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reviewing drought-
related variables such as temperature, precipitation, runoff, streamflow, ground-water
levels, reservoir levels, soil moisture and public water supplies on a daily basis.
The Crop Moisture Index, which measures short-term soil moisture needed for crop
growth, indicates that excessively dry conditions exist across the state and are severely
affecting growers and grazing livestock throughout the state. Freddy Vang, deputy
director of DNR's Land, Water and Conservation Division, told the committee that his
department is working with members of the agricultural community both here and in
Washington, D.C., to determine what measures can be taken to alleviate these
"difficult times for the farmers in our state."
"We are keenly aware of the severity of the situation with regard to the agricultural
community," Vang said. "If there is any action that we can take to assist those whose
livelihood depends on agricultural and forestry interests, then we are prepared to act
immediately."
South Carolina has been experiencing drought conditions for the past 14 months.
According to Hope Miizzell with the DNR State Climatology Office, drought deficits range
from 8 to 26 inches below normal since June 1998. Since July 1, the state has
received 30 to 50 percent of normal rainfall.
According to the National Weather Service forecast, no rainfall is expected within the
next six to 10 days. State Climatologist Mike Helfert says the best hope for any drought
relief would be rainfall. "We need a statewide rainfall to last three to five days," Helfert
said. "And not just one week, but two weeks. The only way to get that is through some
major tropical system, the kindest of which would be a decaying hurricane or an
unnamed tropical storm." However, Helfert says there is no sign of any such system
either in the Atlantic or from the northeast Gulf of Mexico.
A survey of water suppliers across the state conducted by the S.C. Department of
Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) indicates that water supplies are currently
sufficient. The DNR reports that below-normal rainfall in the winter and spring of this year has resulted in record-low streamflows and low groundwater storage. Water
withdrawers who depend on wells or unregulated streams may experience water
shortages and deteriorating water quality in the near future as water storage continues
to decrease in the weeks ahead.
The Drought Response Committee encourages local water suppliers to review drought
response ordinances and plans for their area. The DNR's Drought Information Center
has been activated in Columbia. The public should contact the center at (803) 737-
0800 for more information or if other problems arise. The public is also strongly
encouraged to monitor water resources closely and help by conducting voluntary water
conservation as a contingency for even drier conditions in the near future.
The S.C. Forestry Commission reports that fire occurrence is increasing slightly, but fire
danger has not reached critical levels.
The DNR will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.
Integrated drought information is available on the DNR's State Climatology Office
Internet Web Site.
For more information, contact Mike Helfert (State Climatologist) or Hope Mizzell (State
Drought Program Coordinator) in the DNR State Climatology Office at (803) 737-0800
in Columbia.
- Written by Dawn Mills Campbell
Find out more about the State Climatology Office at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sco/ or by calling (803) 734-9100.
