National Integrated Drought Information System Report

The report was developed through a partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Drought is one of the costliest and deadliest climate-related disasters in the United States (NOAA, 2022), necessitating public health engagement at a national level.

Although drought is not commonly associated with health hazards, it has significant impacts on human health through various pathways. For instance, farmers experiencing crop loss due to drought may suffer from deteriorating mental health, while drought conditions can exacerbate wildfires, leading to respiratory issues. Addressing health outcomes related to drought requires collaboration among different partners with diverse expertise. Integrating human health impacts into drought planning and preparedness activities can provide early warning of potential threats and opportunities for mitigation.

To gain a better understanding of these pathways and identify actions to reduce health impacts associated with drought, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supported the first comprehensive assessment of drought and health. The objectives of this assessment were as follows:

• Strengthen the connections between the drought and public health communities to identify opportunities for NIDIS to engage in partnerships and alliances related to drought and health.

• Continue building and coordinating a team of national and regional partners focused on drought and health.

• Develop regional public health partnerships through NIDIS's regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS) to inform the creation of communication tools and efforts regarding drought impacts.

To achieve these objectives, a national summit and five regional workshops were conducted between 2019 and 2022. Participants included representatives from academic centers, federal agencies, state health, climate, and emergency management departments, as well as non-profit organizations. In addition to the workshops, one-on-one interviews were conducted with state health departments across the United States to supplement the information gathered. The COVID-19 pandemic led to delays in the regional in-person workshops, making the interviews necessary.

The report represents the culmination of knowledge gathered from these events and interviews. It provides insights into the connection between drought events and human health impacts, offering specific examples and an overview of the principles of public health and engagement. Furthermore, the report presents a list of key opportunities and recommended actions to advance engagement and preparedness in the context of drought and public health. These recommendations are based on extensive dialogue and feedback from academic and practitioner communities working in the fields of drought and public health.

Read the full report here.