The Climate and Weather Committee evaluates precipitation and water supply information from around the state and notifies the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources should conditions warrant activating the Drought Assessment Committee (DAC). Missouri’s Drought Response Plan includes a progression of drought response actions to worsening effects of drought. If a Phase 2 - Drought Alert is declared by the Governor, the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will activate the DAC.
The DAC is a working group that reviews the recommendations of the Climate and Weather Committee and designates the drought levels for each county in Missouri. The DAC recommends the activation of and coordinates with representatives of Impact Teams for developing additional assessment information and identifying emergency needs. The DAC makes recommendations to the Governor concerning state-level or regional response and recovery. The DAC is also responsible for debriefing following a drought event and making revisions to Missouri's Drought Response Plan, as deemed necessary.
Current Status - Activated
In response to increasingly dry conditions and the growing threat of serious drought, especially across the state’s southern counties, Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 22-04 on July 21, 2022, declaring a drought alert for 53 Missouri counties. In the executive order, Governor Parson directed the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to activate the DAC and its impact teams. Information about the DAC and its meetings is provided below as it becomes available. On Nov. 28, 2022, Governor Parson signed Executive Order 22-07, extending the July executive order to address drought-response efforts until March 1, 2023.
Staff Coordinator: Erin Fanning, Director, Water Resources Center, erin.fanning@dnr.mo.gov
Contact Information
Water Resources Center - Jefferson City
Missouri Geological Survey
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
United States
