Friday, July 1, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-0290
Gov. Blunt Monitoring Dry Conditions Across Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY—Missouri Governor Matt Blunt announced today that dry conditions in many Missouri counties are being monitored closely to determine whether a drought alert should be declared. Counties in southeast, south-central and northeast Missouri are experiencing a prolonged shortage of precipitation, low stream levels and low soil moisture.
"Rains predicted for parts of the state this weekend may not be enough to ease the current dry conditions," Gov. Blunt said. "We are watching the situation closely. I am prepared to take action to protect our communities and farms by activating the Missouri Drought Assessment Committee if necessary."
The Missouri Drought Assessment Committee is responsible for assessing drought conditions across the state and recommending actions to ease the drought's adverse effects. If a drought alert is declared, the committee will begin immediate assessments of the affected areas under the Missouri Drought Response Plan. Agencies represented on the committee include the state departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Public Safety, Health and Senior Services, Conservation and Economic Development; the U.S. departments of Commerce, Agriculture and Interior; the U.S. Army; the University of Missouri-Columbia; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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