Dried up: drought plagues much of United States.

OSHKOSH, Nebraska -- Normally at this time of year, 53-year-old farmer Jim Olson would be celebrating the harvest. "Usually it's a time when you reap the rewards of your work," Olson said, as he looked across his parched pastures and barren fields. "Obviously this year ... there's not going to be anything to reap." This is the worst harvest he's had in a lifetime of farming.

Because of a relentless drought, the entire state of of Nebraska has been declared a disaster area. Nebraska Gov. Mike Johannes said the state is so dry that parts of it "look like the moon."

Nebraska isn't the only drought stricken state. According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, based in Lincoln, Neb., more than half the nation is experiencing some form of drought. The 21 hardest hit states, mostly in the Southeast, the Great Plains, and the West are suffering from what the center classifies as "extreme" or "exceptional" drought.

States of Drought

Parts of Arizona have been hit especially hard. As grazing lands dry up, Arizona ranchers have been forced to sell their animals at a loss to out-of-state farmers or slaughterhouses. The Arizona Cattlemen's Association reported that the state's cattle population has decreased by about 60,000 animals since the drought began in the state in 1996. The association estimates that 47,000 additional cattle will die or be slaughtered this year.

Everett Massey, a rancher in Canyon Day, Ariz., recently sold five scrawny cattle for much less than he paid for them. "It's no good," he said. "I pray for rain every day." The river that once coursed through his ranch is now only inches deep--so low, he said, that people at its headwaters have actually caught fish with their hands.

Wild animals in Arizona are suffering, too. According to Brian Wakeling of the state's Department of Game and Fish, many animals have been unable to survive the first few months after birth because there is no water to drink. The survival rate for elk calves, for example, has fallen below 20 percent.

Diablo Trust, a land management group, has trucked in thousands of gallons of water for dehydrated animals. "We've never seen anything like this," said Mandy Metzger, the trust's director. "Every time we dump a load of water, 100 to 200 elk show up. It's a tinder-box out there."

In Colorado, the tightest water restrictions in decades are in place. In Denver, Aurora, and Boulder, police patrol for sprinkler abuse. A Denver water conservation ad campaign's slogan is "Only Wash the Stinky Parts."

Debbie Rose of Deulah Valley, Colo., uses bath water to flush toilets in her home. "Even people who were here in the 1930s during the Dust Bowl (below) don't remember a time when the creeks stopped flowing. It's the worst shortage we've ever seen," she said.

The Southeast is suffering as well. On August 31, Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner declared a state of civil emergency and ordered water restrictions in several counties. The town of Orange, Va., whose only water source is the nearly dried-up Rapidan River, has been hit hard by the drought. Residents can take only one three-minute shower a day. Restaurants may serve only canned or bottled beverages and must use paper plates so they don't have to wash dishes.

People in Orange are finding creative ways to get by. Police Chief James R. Otto collects condensation from his basement dehumidifier and uses bath water to flush toilets. Other people are putting bricks in the backs of their toilet tanks to save water.

Federal officials declared 20 North Carolina cities and counties drought disaster areas. In Shelby and Cherryville, N.C., officials even declared "days of prayer for drought relief." Some people thought their prayers were answered when it rained a few days later. "I just lay on my front yard and let it fall over me.... It was beautiful," said Cherryville Mayor Wayne Stroupe.

Dry Days Ahead

The current drought began throughout much of the country in 1998. An unusually hot summer only made problems worse, drying what little water remained in the soil.

"Parts of the [southeastern] and western United States have been in various states of drought since 1998, so the impact accumulates and carries over," said Donald Wilhite, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center. This multiyear drought has taken its toll on agriculture, urban water supplies, recreation and tourism. And there's no indication that things are getting any better."

Indeed, the National Weather Service recently forecasted that dry conditions will continue through the winter for much of the United States. Only the South is expected to be wetter than normal.

Toughing Out Dry Times

Despite hard times, many Americans, such as Nebraska rancher Tom Obermiller, remain hopeful. "I've been through tougher times, and I'll get through it somehow. It's real dry this year, but chances are it'll be a lot wetter next year."

CONSIDER THIS ... What might be some of the short- and long-term effects of the drought on affected farmers, businesses, and families? How might it affect food prices and other parts of the country?

Get Talking

Tell students that much of the United States is experiencing a drought. Ask students: What is a drought? What causes a drought? Will there always be droughts? Is there anything people can do to lesson a drought's impact?

Fast Facts

* The drought is estimated to cost the nation's economy about $5 billion.

* Corn crops in the Midwest produced about 1 billion fewer bushels this season, driving up the price of corn for farmers nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

* On September 19, the USDA announced that it will pay out $752 million in assistance to drought-stricken ranchers in 37 states. Funds will not be available for crop farmers, who typically have insurance to cover their losses.

* Nationwide, last summer was the third hottest on record, according to the National Climate Data Center.

* Dry conditions have fueled wildfires out West. More than six million acres have burned so far--that's more than double the average annual damage by wildfires. Costs are estimated at $1.5 billion so far.

Doing More

Have students further research the Dust Bowl. Have them write a newspaper article that might have appeared in an Oklahoma newspaper in the 1930s. Students' articles could be about a dust storm, people fleeing to California, or the causes of the Dust Bowl.

Link It

* National Drought Mitigation Center: http://www.drought.unl.edu/index.htm

* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.drought.noaa.gov/

* Water Use it Wisely: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/waterSavingTips/100tips.html

* From PBS, Surviving the Dustbowl: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/