The water supply situation reached crisis levels in some communities, as the effects of the long term drought continued to plague western North Carolina. Particularly hard hit were several Piedmont communities along the Interstate 77 corridor. The city of Shelby was forced to buy water from surrounding communities and even from private companies and citizens. In Statesville, emergency construction of wells and a dam was necessary to prevent  the city from running out of water, as the South Yadkin River reached historically low levels. Water levels on area lakes were as much as 10 feet below full pond. Most of the larger towns and cities along the I-77 corridor had imposed mandatory water restrictions by the end of the month, including the Charlotte metro area.

Drought in DAVIE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in CATAWBA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in BURKE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in CABARRUS, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in CALDWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in SOUTHERN JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in SWAIN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in TRANSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in CLEVELAND, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in ROWAN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in POLK, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in RUTHERFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in ALEXANDER, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in GASTON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in GRAHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in IREDELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in LINCOLN, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in MACON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in HAYWOOD, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in AVERY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in BUNCOMBE, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in MADISON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in MCDOWELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in UNION, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in YANCEY, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in MECKLENBURG, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in NORTHERN JACKSON, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Drought in MITCHELL, NORTH CAROLINA
From 01-AUG-02 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-02 23:59:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER