Drought Management

Description

Drought is a natural hazard that differs from other hazards as it has a slow onset, evolves over months or even years and affects small pockets to a large regional expanse. Its onset and severity are often difficult to determine. As a result, there is a lack of urgency in response. Like other hazards, the impacts of drought span economic, environmental and social sectors and can be reduced through mitigation and preparedness. Since droughts are a normal part of climate variability in virtually all regions, characterised by extended periods of water shortage, it is important to develop contextual plans to deal with them in a timely, systematic manner as they evolve.
Drought risk management (DRM) is the concept and practice to avoid, lessen or transfer the adverse effects of drought hazards and the potential impacts of disaster through measures for prevention, mitigation and preparedness. It is a systematic process of using administrative directives, organisations with operational skills and capacities to implement strategies, policies and improving coping capacities. In addition the inclusion of long term measures like water conservation projects such as aquifer recharge and the constructs of reservoirs, are also talked about in this book.