Drought gets national exposure through lens of Valley native

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Exeter based photographer Matt Black followed long time ranchers hit hard by the lack of water for a documentary in The New Yorker.

The New York Times published a piece on Thursday showing how the parched weather is drying up taps in the Valley.

Andrew Lockman with Tulare County's Office of Emergency Services sees those life changing problems on a daily basis.

"Primarily private well failures is the biggest impact we've seen. People who turn on the faucet one day and they have no running water," said Lockman.

Lockman says that's what happened in the small town of Seville where non-profit workers handed out bottled water door to door.

Across the Valley reservoirs levels are historically low. The drop in water puts a dent in the Ag industry.

"We start worrying longer term about property taxes going down from the county perspective that makes up 65% of our general fund," added Lockman.

Right now the agency is offering assistance to those who are struggling because of the drought.

To find out more about the aid being offered, contact Tulare County's Office of Emergency Services.