Friday, July 27, 2007

MARYLAND: Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) asked federal authorities yesterday to declare a drought disaster in Southern Maryland and the middle and lower Eastern Shore to speed aid to farmers. O'Malley said affected farms have lost between 30 and 60 percent of their crops.

VIRGINIA: Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) wants federal drought disaster relief for farmers in Bland, Brunswick, Caroline, Culpeper, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Washington and Wise counties. A report says that statewide precipitation since October has been normal but that rainfalls have been below normal in several parts of the state in recent months, with diminished stream flow and reservoir storage in some regions.

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Since January, according to the National Weather Service, Reagan National Airport's rainfall has been more than 5 inches below the normal of 22.11; Dulles International Airport's total has been more than 8 inches below the normal of 23.77. The total at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is about 4 inches lower than the usual 23.87 inches. The weekend forecast calls for possible rain.