National Climatic Data Center, 14 August 2003

Governor Kathleen Sebelius issued a drought warning July 31 for 53 Kansas counties due to hot, dry conditions. However, local leaders said they had not been notified officially of the advisory and local communities were in no danger of water shortages. The warning covered all of western Kansas and the northern tier of counties. The remaining 52 counties of central and eastern Kansas, including Crawford, Bourbon and Cherokee counties, were under a drought watch. Gov. Sebelius also has declared four counties disaster areas because of drought conditions, seeking federal assistance.