Drought disaster declared; city restricts outdoor irrigation
Federal officials have declared a drought-related disaster in Rhode Island
Drought disaster declared; city restricts outdoor irrigation
Show all 6Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Federal officials have declared a drought-related disaster in Rhode Island while New England’s second-largest city is restricting outdoor water use as the drought in the Northeast worsens.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack declared Monday all five of Rhode Island's counties as “primary natural disaster areas” because of the ongoing drought.
The declaration allows eligible farms to be considered for low-interest, emergency loans and other assistance from the department's Farm Service Agency. Farmers have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for the assistance.
“This prolonged drought has been tough on many Rhode Island farmers, harming the yield and quality of crops,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who earlier this month requested the disaster declaration, said in a statement. “This federal declaration is good news for the state and should help mitigate some of the production losses local farmers are facing.”
Rhode Island saw less than 0.5 inches (1.2 centimeters) of rain in July, compared to an average of 2.5 inches (6.3 centimeters), according to Reed's office. More than 99% of the state is experiencing extreme drought.
The drought declaration came as thunderstorms and heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in southern New England on Tuesday. Near Providence, Rhode Island, flooding closed roadways, backed up traffic and saturated basements.
Experts say the region needs steady rain to end the drought. The heavy, short rainfall brought by the occasional thunderstorm tends to run off, not soak into the ground.
In Massachusetts, the city of Worcester declared a drought Monday, restricting the use of outdoor irrigation systems and urging the public to limit indoor water use.
The central Massachusetts city of 206,000 residents said its reservoirs have dipped to about 72% of capacity. In response, Worcester officials are prohibiting use of irrigation systems between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The public is also asked to do its part by “not letting the water run in your kitchen and bathroom sinks more than necessary, not letting the hose run while washing a car in the driveway, and ensuring dishwashers are full before running them," the city's statement said.
Worcester officials will also meet with representatives of large water users including hospitals and colleges to discuss ways to reduce usage.
Most of New England is experiencing drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with about 40% of Massachusetts in “extreme drought."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.