Supporting drought resilience across Washington State
 Drought conditions continue to develop across Washington due to warmer winters, low snowpack, and persistent dry weather. These conditions cause hardship for many water users throughout the state, including agricultural producers. Long-term drought escalates damage to plants, ecosystems, and wildlife. Even short-term drought depletes topsoil moisture, harming crops quickly if alternative water sources are unavailable. Prolonged drought can lead to total crop and forage failure and livestock sell-off.
WSDA has launched a new Drought Resource Page to support local emergency managers, conservation districts, and agricultural stakeholders. It includes current drought declarations, emergency water permitting processes, and relief funding options.
Take action now—small steps can make a big difference.
Share our social media post with your community: WSDA drought readiness
New: Pet food donation guide for emergency response
Emergencies like wildfires, droughts, and heat waves impact pets too—animal food insecurity is real. Help keep pets fed and healthy. Pet food donated to emergency relief organizations must be registered with the WSDA Animal Feed Program to ensure safety. Just like stores follow our guidelines, WSDA oversees all pet and specialty pet food distributed in the state. View the Pet Food Guide.
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 While the Fourth of July has passed, fireworks will continue to be used throughout the month, especially in rural areas. With the ongoing hot and dry weather, the risk of wildfires remains high.
We urge communities to stay vigilant and continue sharing fire prevention messaging:
- Local burn bans and fireworks restrictions:
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Safe alternatives to fireworks: Encourage attendance at community displays or organize non-firework events.
- Fire safety education:
Please forward this newsletter to local emergency managers, conservation partners, and community leaders. Share on social media or include it in your agency newsletters.
Informed communities are more resilient.
Thank you for your continued efforts, WSDA Emergency Management Team
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