SECTION 4: RISK ASSESSMENT
PROPERTY Drought is unlikely to cause damages to the built environment. However, in areas with shrinking and expansive soils, drought may lead to structural damages. Drought may cause severe property loss for the agricultural industry in terms of crop and livestock losses. The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) maintains a database of all paid crop insurance claims. Between 2007-2023, the sum of claims paid for crop damage as a result of drought in Wake County was $9,553,908.37, or an average of $561,994.61 in losses every year. Losses were greatest in 2007 when 12,460 acres of soybeans, flue cured tobacco, and corn were affected, resulting in $1,684,909 in crop losses. Table 4.23 summarizes the crop losses due to drought in reported in the RMA system. Table 4.23 – Crop Losses Resulting from Drought, 2007-2023 Year Determined Acres Indemnity Amount 2007 12,459.84 $1,684,909 2008 4,727.20 $506,630 2009 2,858.15 $282,486 2010 8,186.53 $1,202,328 2011 3,473.58 $656,081 2012 685.28 $91,120 2013 160.07 $8,811 2014 605.03 $123,391.1 2015 4,375.86 $1,152,001.62 2016 968.63 $682,636 2017 1767.51 $692,770.7 2018 1,050.36 $200,520.55 2019 4,577.28 $588,163.15 2020 730.874 $528,775 2022 2,177.083 $544,826.9 2023 3,240.932 $608,458.35 Total 52,044.21 $9,553,908.37 Source: USDA Risk Management Agency ENVIRONMENT Drought can affect local wildlife by shrinking food supplies and damaging habitats. Sometimes this damage is only temporary, and other times it is irreversible. Wildlife may face increased disease rates due to limited access to food and water. Increased stress on endangered species could cause extinction. Drought conditions can also provide a substantial increase in wildfire risk. As plants and trees die from a lack of precipitation, increased insect infestations, and diseases — all of which are associated with drought — they become fuel for wildfire. Long periods of drought can result in more intense wildfires, which bring additional consequences for the economy, the environment, and society. Drought may also increase likelihood of wind and water erosion of soils.
CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS
Table 4.24 summarizes the potential negative consequences of drought.
Wake County, NC Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
WSP June 2024 Page 103
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