Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness Across the Nation: NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
Drought poses a serious threat to the resilience and security of communities nationwide and regularly impacts the lives of millions of Americans and the nation’s economy. Climate change is expected to exacerbate the risk of drought in the future for many locations across the country.
To help improve drought early warning and the nation’s capacity to manage drought-related risks, NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) was established by Congress in 2006, and reauthorized in 2014 and 2019. NIDIS is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought research, monitoring, forecasting, and planning at national, state, and local levels across the country. This work is done in partnership with other agencies, organizations, universities, and the private sector, and the overall mission of NIDIS is to maximize the nation’s ability to proactively manage drought-related risks. NIDIS aims to provide the best available information and resources for people to assess the potential for drought, and to better prepare for, mitigate, and respond to the effects of drought. This seminar will highlight how NIDIS supports a regional network of partners across the Midwest, advances drought research across the region and nation, communicates drought information and resources to decision makers