Since 1980, drought has been the fourth most common type of disaster in the U.S. and the second most costly. In 1998, more than one-third of the U.S. was affected by drought, with an event covering the West Coast to the upper Midwest. In 2007, a drought hit Georgia, resulting in interstate conflicts over water rights. Drought is becoming an increasingly important issue for planners at the local, regional and state levels.