The excruciating heat and humidity in the past three months affected everyone and everything across the nation. The National Climatic Data Center ranked the drought of 2012 as one of the worst in history due to its persistence. Even after it breaks, the drought will have a lasting impact on the United States – from an increase in deer disease to the rise in the price of corn.

“I can see the effects of the long drought this summer at a running specialty store I work at,” said senior history major Brian Flynn. “We typically place our orders 12 to 18 months ahead of time and it is all based on when the weather traditionally changes. However, this drought is completely throwing our business off.”

“Products we thought would sell are still sitting on the shelves while the products we didn’t think we would need are selling quickly and we can’t order more. I’ve talked to other merchants as well who say they are having the same problems. It shows how the hot weather is really having an impact on the economy and it will continue to impact the economy in terms of food costs and living expenses.”

Flynn added how the drought affected him personally. “The water level [is] so low that I am unable to go kayaking in a nearby river,” said Flynn. “It is one of my favorite things to do, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to enjoy it.”
ξ