State officials in California are preparing for the after-effects of extremely low rainfall.
What We Know:
- This year, the golden state recorded its driest month of February in 150 years. The lack of rain has contributed to 92% of California experiencing drought conditions, prompting officials to funnel more money into fire prevention ahead of wildfire season that typically occurs from May through October.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map released today shows 92% of CA in a #drought category (D1-D4). Severe drought (D2 – orange) conditions were expanded across portions of #SoCal in this week’s map. For more info visit: https://t.co/QXnSqv6OXu #CAwx #LaNina pic.twitter.com/lzTeSWFyG5
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) April 8, 2021
- The drought plays a significant role in increasing the risks of wide-spreading wildfires across the state by making vegetation drier and more flammable from the absence of water. As a result, Governor Gavin Newson announced on Thursday a $536 million budget for a project centered around forest management and reducing wildfires.
- According to NBC News, Governor Newson, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon wrote a joint statement saying, “As California and the West continue to contend with historic and destructive wildfire seasons, it has become clear that we are entering a ‘new normal’ in which increasingly intense wildfires wreak havoc during a nearly year-round fire season.”
- Last month, Newson allocated $80 million into emergency funds to hire 1,400 firefighters with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or Cal Fire. Now, this new grant will more than double firefighters’ annual spending in wildfire response efforts.
The preventative measures come after a catastrophic fire season last year that left more than 4 million acres across the state destroyed and lingering dense smoke for weeks.
