In areas where floods are frequent, houses are often built on platforms several feet above the ground. In earthquake-prone regions, policies may be put in place to ensure that buildings are less vulnerable to collapse if a quake strikes.
Similar preparations can increase the likelihood of an individual or community managing a drought hazard in a way that minimizes overall losses. Individual farmers or ranchers, communities or regions can begin a planning process to:
- identify water-dependent functions of a farm or community
- prioritize water-dependent functions
- determine steps to adapt those functions if water supplies begin to drop