Communities beginning to explore how to prepare for natural hazards often begin with the questions "What do we need to prepare for?" and "What shareable resources are required in order for us to be prepared?" Using the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment process as a blueprint, and climate and hydrological data to develop potential drought scenarios; project leaders are creating a decision support tool to help water managers and drought planners work together to create plans for stewardship of water and other community assets during a drought hazard.
The Platte River basin serves as an ideal environment for the application of a THIRA to drought planning because of its importance to communities throughout the state, and its historic vulnerabilities to drought.