Drought Contingency Planning: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Plans

Abstract

This article reports results from a two-year research project to evaluate the effectiveness of drought contingency plans. The research developed a metalevel framework for evaluating plans before a drought. In addition, it applied this framework to an in-depth case study of a major metropolitan region, Atlanta, Georgia. This research discovered that drought plans have limited effectiveness when disconnected from larger scale and longer term planning. The requirement to prepare a plan does not necessarily invoke a substantive drought planning process. Disjointed local level plans, instead of coordinated planning effects, have limited ability to mitigate impacts in widespread drought. Because the faith placed in plans may be misplaced, metropolitan regions may be unwittingly poised for a disaster. Recommendations include stronger links between drought plans and drought planning, inclusion of stakeholders and agency expertise, mechanisms for interagency coordination, and improved integration between drought plans and strategic water resources plans.