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Vulnerability Assessment. Drought can have the following <br />potential impacts within a community: <br />• Economic disruption; <br />• Agricultural/fisheries damage; <br />• Damage to critical environmental resources; and <br />• Wildland fire. <br />While Indian River County is moderately vulnerable to impacts <br />from drought due to the County's large agricultural land tax <br />base, some communities are less vulnerable due to their <br />location and non-agricultural economic base. <br />A few examples of direct impacts of drought are reduced crop, <br />rangeland, and forest productivity; increased fire hazard; <br />reduced water levels; increased livestock and wildlife mortality <br />rates; and damage to wildlife and fish habitat. Social impacts <br />include public safety, health, conflicts between water users, <br />reduced quality of life, and inequities in the distribution of <br />impacts and disaster relief. Income loss is another indicator <br />used in assessing the impacts of drought; reduced income for <br />farmers has a ripple effect throughout the region's economy <br />(National Drought Mitigation Center, 2003). <br />The web of impacts is so diffuse that it is very difficult to come <br />up with financial estimates of damages. However, FEMA <br />estimates $6 to $8 billion in losses as the annual average <br />(FEMA, 1995). The worst drought (36% of U.S.) in recent <br />history occurred in July 1988, and the NCDC reports the <br />estimated cost as $40 billion (National Drought Mitigation <br />Center, 2010). <br />Risk Assessment. Indian River County overall, has a <br />moderate vulnerability to the impacts from drought due to the <br />County's large agricultural land tax base. The western area of <br />the County is most vulnerable to the impacts of drought <br />because this area is extensively involved in farming and <br />ranching. As of 2012, the average annual market value of <br />agricultural products in Indian River County was $145 million <br />( rv.agcensus.usda. ov). The urbanized communities along <br />the County's coast are less vulnerable due to their location and <br />non-agricultural economic base. Potential impacts to Indian <br />River County's potable water supply during drought conditions <br />appear to be slight. <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 48 <br />