☀️ Hazard category
Drought risk by state
Drought develops slowly but threatens water supplies, agriculture, foundations and wildfire conditions.
Drought develops slowly but threatens water supplies, agriculture, foundations and wildfire conditions.
How to prepare your home
- Follow local water restrictions and fix leaks promptly.
- Install low-flow fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping.
- Water foundations evenly in expansive-soil regions to prevent cracking.
- Harvest rainwater where permitted for outdoor use.
- Monitor conditions on the US Drought Monitor.
Official sources
All states ranked by drought risk
Arizona
Arizona faces some of the highest drought risk in the United States, driven by its arid climate, limited…
California
California faces an extreme drought risk, rated 5 out of 5 by HomeRiskMap. The state's Mediterranean climate…
Nevada
Nevada is the driest state in the U.S. and faces a very high drought risk, rated 5 out of 5. Chronic water…
New Mexico
New Mexico is rated level 5 out of 5 for drought risk, making it one of the most drought-prone states in the…
Texas
Texas experiences severe and frequent droughts, especially in the western and central parts of the state,…
Utah
Utah has the highest possible drought risk rating (5 out of 5) due to its arid climate, variable snowpack,…
Colorado
Colorado faces a high risk of drought, rated level 4 out of 5, driven by its semi-arid climate and reliance…
Kansas
Kansas experiences frequent and severe droughts due to its location in the central Great Plains and semi-arid…
Montana
Montana faces a high level 4 (out of 5) drought risk, with seasonal dry spells and variable precipitation…
Nebraska
Nebraska faces a high risk of drought due to its semi-arid climate and heavy reliance on agriculture. Drought…
Oklahoma
Drought is a significant and recurring hazard in Oklahoma, rated level 4 out of 5 by the National Risk Index.…
South Dakota
South Dakota has a high risk of drought, with periodic dry spells that can stress water supplies and increase…
Wyoming
Wyoming is rated level 4 of 5 for drought risk on the National Risk Index. Drought affects water supply, can…
Alabama
Alabama faces a moderate drought risk, with occasional dry spells that can stress water supplies,…
Arkansas
Drought is a recurring hazard in Arkansas, rated level 3 of 5, meaning significant risk of periods with…
Florida
Drought in Florida is a recurring hazard that can stress water supplies, increase wildfire risk, and damage…
Georgia
Georgia experiences periodic droughts, typically during the late summer and fall, which can strain water…
Idaho
Idaho faces significant drought risk due to its semi-arid climate and reliance on snowpack for water supply.…
Iowa
Iowa's drought risk is moderate, with dry spells most common in summer and fall. Drought can harm…
Louisiana
Louisiana faces a moderate drought risk (level 3 of 5) due to its humid subtropical climate and periodic…
Mississippi
Mississippi faces a moderate (level 3 of 5) drought risk, with periodic dry spells that can stress…
Missouri
Drought risk in Missouri is moderate, rated level 3 of 5 by FEMA. The state experiences periodic dry spells…
North Dakota
North Dakota has a moderate drought risk (level 3 of 5) that can affect homes through soil shrinkage, well…
Oregon
Drought is a recurring hazard in Oregon, affecting water supply, agriculture, and wildfire risk across the…
South Carolina
South Carolina faces a moderate risk of drought, with dry conditions most likely in the summer and fall.…
Alaska
Drought risk in Alaska is generally low to moderate, but it can still affect water supplies and increase…
Connecticut
Connecticut is rated level 2 of 5 for drought risk, meaning drought is a lower but real concern. Droughts in…
Delaware
Drought risk in Delaware is relatively low, but the state can still experience dry periods that affect water…
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia faces a moderate drought risk, rated level 2 of 5. Droughts here typically occur in…
Hawaii
Hawaii experiences periodic drought conditions, particularly on leeward (dry) sides of the islands and during…
Illinois
Drought risk in Illinois is relatively low compared to western states, but periodic dry spells can still…
Indiana
Indiana faces a moderate drought risk, rated 2 out of 5 on the national hazard scale. While the state…
Kentucky
Drought risk in Kentucky is relatively low, but periodic dry spells can still stress water supplies,…
Maine
Maine has a relatively low drought risk compared to other states, but periodic dry spells can still affect…
Maryland
Drought risk in Maryland is moderate, rated level 2 of 5. Droughts typically develop during summer and can…
Massachusetts
Drought in Massachusetts is a periodic hazard, most common during late summer and fall, when rainfall…
Michigan
Michigan experiences occasional droughts, typically during summer months, despite its abundant water…
Minnesota
Minnesota is rated level 2 of 5 for drought risk, meaning a moderate but real possibility of prolonged dry…
New Hampshire
New Hampshire faces a moderate drought risk, rated level 2 of 5. Although the state normally receives enough…
New Jersey
New Jersey faces a moderate, level 2 drought risk, meaning dry spells can occur but are less severe than in…
New York
New York is rated level 2 of 5 for drought risk, meaning drought is possible but generally less severe than…
North Carolina
North Carolina faces a moderate, level 2 drought risk, with dry spells most common in late summer and fall.…
Ohio
Ohio has low drought risk, but dry spells can damage foundations and water supplies. Get practical…
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a lower risk of drought than many other states, but dry spells can still occur, especially…
Rhode Island
Rhode Island experiences periodic drought, typically rated as a moderate (Level 2 of 5) hazard. While the…
Tennessee
Tennessee has a relatively low drought risk, rated level 2 of 5, but dry spells can still occur, especially…
Vermont
Drought risk in Vermont is relatively low compared with western states, but the state can still experience…
Virginia
Virginia faces a moderate drought risk (level 2 of 5), with periodic dry spells that can stress water…
Washington
Washington faces periodic drought conditions, with the eastern and central parts of the state generally more…
West Virginia
Drought risk in West Virginia is rated level 2 of 5, so it is relatively low. Still, short-term dry spells in…
Wisconsin
Drought risk in Wisconsin is rated Level 2 (relatively low) among U.S. states, but the state can still…