Nebraska Rural Poll shows rural residents are concerned about drought

Nebraska Rural Poll shows rural residents are concerned about drought

Platte River in 2022
A semi-trailer crosses the dry Platte River near Chapman on Oct. 13. The area was in severe/extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A record 55% of respondents to the 2022 Nebraska Rural Poll are concerned about severe drought. CRAIG CHANDLER, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING

“These trends in rural Nebraska are similar to what we’re seeing across the country,” said Heather Akin, assistant professor of strategic communication at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “Direct experiences with extreme weather tend to evoke more concern about climate change, but we’re also seeing more uncertainty in terms of how people think their communities will manage in the future.” The Grand Island Independent | December 18, 2022