Prolonged shortages of rain have led to drought conditions throughout the entire state, Gov. Jim Justice said Friday.
Justice declared a state of emergency in all 55 counties in an effort to help farmers, he said.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, southern, central and northern West Virginia have experienced moderate to severe drought conditions, while the state’s eastern panhandle has had extreme drought conditions.
“This drought has plagued West Virginia farmers, putting them at risk of losing everything,” Justice said in a statement. “We cannot and will not stand by and watch our hardworking farmers suffer from this severe lack of rain. We understand the immense stress and hardship this drought has caused.”
He added that the state Emergency Management Division is “working tirelessly” to secure disaster assistance for people in need.
Declaring a state of emergency allows the state to access different pools of money and resources to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.
The emergency declaration will remain in effect 30 days unless terminated earlier.