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August 11, 1999 —

Right now parts of the country are in the grips of a crippling drought. New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Rhode Island are experiencing the driest growing seasons ever. And other parts of the country are hurting, too.

Our forecasters at the National Weather Service have been tracking this drought for some time. They are telling us that the drought is likely to continue into the fall and winter, and possibly extend into next year. In a minute General Jack Kelly, director of the weather service, will provide additional details about this forecast.

Secretary Glickman and I share the President's concern about the drought's impact, particularly on America's farmers and small businesses. As we consider the possibility of an extended drought, let's look at the cost compared to other weather disasters.

I can't tell you how much the drought has cost so far. But the drought of 1988 was the most costly weather disaster in recent history, estimated at $40 billion. By comparison, Hurricane Andrew cost $33 billion. The average annual cost of droughts is over $6 billion, more than twice that of floods. And these are only the economic costs—droughts impact people's lives and the environment in ways that are often difficult to measure.

In a few minutes, Secretary Glickman will tell you about steps the Department of Agriculture is taking.

I am announcing two new initiatives for the Department of Commerce. We cannot promise rain, but we can promise action to help communities prepare for drought and heat.

First, starting today we are posting on the Internet weekly assessments of potential heat threats. This information integrates for the first time heat assessments with other weather-related threats. The new threat assessment maps will allow all of us to take precautionary steps to lessen the impacts of extreme heat.

Second, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, we are launching a new drought monitoring and forecast service. It maps the status of droughts nationwide and forecasts whether they will strengthen or weaken. The drought monitor is also available on the Internet.

In addition to these immediate measures, we have put on a fast track research that will allow us to forecast the probability of heat waves two weeks in advance. This valuable information will be available to communities by next summer.

These actions reflect the commitment of the Clinton-Gore administration to investing in science and putting the results to work for Americans. With tools such as the ones we are announcing today, communities will be able to make better economic and planning decisions.

I have had the pleasure over the past year-and-a-half to work with Jack Kelly. He has been instrumental in keeping our investments in a new, modern weather service on track. And as you will see, he has helped guide it into a new era of service.