The year is 2005. Washington and Oregon are suffering through a drought that rivals the East Coast drought of 1999. Farmers can't irrigate, crops die, workers are laid off and join unemployment ranks. Family farms go broke, no one's paying taxes or purchasing goods or services.
Problem spreads through region.
It's hot, but, because there are no dams, electricity costs have tripled, so no one can use air conditioning. Oh, yes, the water rationing. Forget about it. I close my business on the coldest days. Food costs have increased.