The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has expanded its Drought Watch and Fire Warning map to include Rockland County and much of the Hudson Valley. That means without significant rain soon, state officials could start asking residents to save water whenever possible. Rockland’s Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Chris Kear, says the dry conditions are making it hazardous for area firefighters…
The drought watch includes Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties. The “watch” is the first of four drought advisory levels — watch, warning, emergency, and disaster. The drought watch does not include mandatory restrictions.