Stunted corn stalks in a large field with dry dirt during drought
The effects of drought on a corn field in Dent County, July 2022.

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.

Meetings

Meetings are held as needed and are open to everyone. Attendance at these meetings may be in person, by conference call or through Webex. The department will attempt to correct technical difficulties as they arise, but the department cannot guarantee the quality of the Webex or conference call option. The meeting will not be subject to change or repeat due to any technical difficulties.

Individuals requiring special services or accommodations in order to attend a meeting can make arrangements by contacting the staff coordinator noted below at least 48 hours before the meeting. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals may contact the staff coordinator through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966. Translation or interpretation services will be provided upon request at no charge. Call 573-522-9395 for assistance.

Staff Coordinator: Elizabeth Kerby, Environmental Engineer, Water Resources Center, elizabeth.kerby@dnr.mo.gov.

Upcoming Meetings

There are no new meetings currently scheduled. Please check back, because we anticipate new information soon!

Past Meetings


Meeting
East Elm Street Conference Center
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, Feb. 26, 2025
More Info:
Video Recording, Feb. 26, 2025

Meeting
Webex
Statewide, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, Dec. 17, 2024
More Info:
Video Recording, Dec. 17, 2024

Meeting
Lewis and Clark State Office Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, July 19, 2024

Meeting
Lewis and Clark State Office Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, May 13, 2024
More Info:
Video Recording, May 13, 2024

Meeting
East Elm Street Conference Center
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, April 17, 2024
More Info:
Video Recording, April 17, 2024

Meeting
Lewis and Clark State Office Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, March 7, 2024
More Info:
Video Recording, March 7, 2024

Meeting
Lewis and Clark State Office Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, Dec. 18, 2023
More Info:
Video Recording, Dec. 18, 2023

Meeting
Lewis and Clark State Office Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, Oct. 4, 2023
More Info:
Video Recording, Oct. 4, 2023

Meeting
East Elm Street Conference Center
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, Aug. 22, 2023
More Info:
Video Recording, Aug. 22, 2023

Meeting
Lewis and Clark State Office Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, July 25, 2023
More Info:
Video Recording, July 25, 2023

Meeting
Webex
Statewide, Missouri 		• Agriculture Impact Team Meeting Agenda, July 18, 2023

Meeting
Lewis and Clark State Office Building
Jefferson City, Missouri 		• Drought Assessment Committee Meeting Agenda, June 7, 2023
All department events and meetings, including dates, times and locations, are available by accessing the department calendar.

Committee Structure

The DAC consists of representatives from both state and federal agencies, and other agencies designated by the DAC as appropriate. The Director of the Department of Natural Resources, or their designee, chairs the DAC. The DAC vice-chair is selected by the committee from among participating DAC members. The following list includes the agencies generally represented on the DAC. Additional staff may be solicited to attend DAC meetings and participate in various Impact Teams.

  • Office of the Governor
  • Missouri Department of Natural Resources - Chair
  • Missouri Department of Agriculture
  • Missouri Department of Conservation
  • Missouri Department of Economic Development
  • Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
  • Missouri Department of Public Safety
  • Missouri Department of Transportation
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • National Weather Service
  • University of Missouri-State Climatologist
  • University of Missouri-College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency 
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. Geological Survey
  • Regional Planning Commissions

Impact Teams

The impact teams are composed of agency team members who are technical experts. The teams gather, review and provide specific, detailed reports and analyses and report their findings and recommendations to the DAC. The recommendations, reports and findings from each team are reviewed by the DAC and the department for potential addition to the Missouri Drought Plan.

Potential impact teams and topics are listed below:

  • Agriculture: livestock, crops, farm ponds, irrigation and rough-age/ forage
  • Climate and Weather: meteorological monitoring and analysis (The Climate and Weather impact team may, at the discretion of the department director, be named a standing committee.)
  • Commercial Navigation: barge traffic along the Mississippi River 
  • Economic: personal and business income impacts, tax revenue impacts, federal and state assistance
  • Health: human health, water contamination
  • Natural Resources and Environmental: fish, forests, wildlife, aquifers, rivers and streams, and streamflow
  • Recreation: tourism and navigation
  • Social and Communications: public communications and demographic and sociological impacts
  • Water Supplies and Wastewater: public, private, commercial, industrial, utilities
  • Post Drought Evaluation: review and analysis of impacts of drought on the above topics, recommendations for mitigation, crisis intervention and planning, recommended changes and expansions to the Missouri Drought Plan

Contact Information

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