#15. Kansas

%2315.+Kansas

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– Share of state experiencing drought conditions (20-year average): 40,193 sq. mi. (48.8% of land area); 1,181,016 people (41.4% of population)

— Moderate drought: 24,027 sq. mi. (29.2% of land area); 627,180 people (22.0% of population)

— Severe drought: 13,138 sq. mi. (16.0% of land area); 298,137 people (10.4% of population)

— Extreme drought: 5,790 sq. mi. (7.0% of land area); 123,717 people (4.3% of population)

— Exceptional drought: 1,741 sq. mi. (2.1% of land area); 23,720 people (0.8% of population)

Just under half (45.1%) of Kansas is abnormally dry, with moderate to extreme drought conditions in parts of the state ramping up fire danger and creating headaches for farmers. In summer of 2020, the governor of Kansas declared drought emergencies, watches, and warnings for 74 out of the state’s 105 counties. The worst-hit counties were allowed to request emergency water from state fishing lakes.