CS263437

National Center for Environmental Health

Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects

DROUGHT AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE U.S.

Why drought matters

When drought affects a community, its devastating consequences can include decreased 

food production, decreased water quantity and quality, and increased risk to human 

health. These effects can be far-reaching, complex, and costly.

How drought can affect health

Drought can have many harsh effects on plants, animals, and the environment. This can contribute to increased risk to human 

health. Here are only a few examples of what drought can do: 

What is NCEH doing?

Drought is a recurring event. Planning and preparation can help reduce the impact of drought on communities. Here are a few 

examples of National Center for Environmental Health’s (NCEH’s) current drought-related activities: 

Collaborating with organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National 

Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) to identify ways to better clarify the effect of drought on human health. 

Supporting public health partners to better understand health effects and to increase drought resiliency.

Providing a guidance document for public health: When Every Drop Counts: Protecting Public Health During Drought 

Conditions—A Guide for Public Health Professionals (See http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/publications/drought.htm).

Providing technical assistance to communities on private well water issues and algal bloom outbreaks.

Creating a drought resource guide for public health professionals that will include information on best practices, 

lessons learned, gaps, data sources, and tools regarding public health preparedness and response for drought.

For more information on CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health 

work with drought, visit our website at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/drought/.

► Droughts are one of the most costly climate-related 

events. From 1980-2014, there were 22 droughts in the 

United States that each cost over $1 billion. 

► Droughts continue to impact the United States: 

• In 2012, the most geographically extensive drought 

to affect the U.S. since the 1930s covered over 50% 

of the country and cost $31 billion.

• For the state of California alone, the current western 

drought has cost thus far over $4.9 billion and has 

contributed to the loss of more than 21,000 jobs. 

Cause stress, 

anxiety, and 

depression. Drought 

causes economic 

losses to businesses 

that rely on water 

(for example, farms 

and landscape 

companies) and job 

loss for people who 

work in these areas. 

Change the amount and 

patterns of certain diseases. 

For example, mosquitoes 

carrying West Nile virus can 

move into new areas when 

stagnant bodies of water 

create new breeding grounds. 

Also, dry and dusty soil 

conditions can increase the risk 

of Valley Fever, a lung infection 

caused by a fungus in the soil. 

Intensify wildfires 

and dust storms, 

thus increasing 

the number of 

particulates in the 

air. This can worsen 

asthma and other 

heart and lung 

diseases.

Intensify 

heatwaves

causing increased 

risk of injury and 

death from heat 

exhaustion or 

heat stroke.

Stress city- or 

county-wide 

water systems

that supply 

water not only 

to households 

but also at-risk 

populations 

such as people 

in hospitals and 

nursing homes.

Did not experience extreme or 

exceptional drought.

Experienced extreme drought.

Experienced exceptional drought.

Experienced extreme and 

exceptional drought.

States that experienced extreme or exceptional drought, 2005–2015