| By Bob Weaver
The spread of regional droughts across the USA will likely be the nation's next big natural disaster.
While the shortage of oil is a national crisis, it will pale to the lack of water.
Water will become West Virginia's greatest resource, linked to the state's ability to store vast amounts between its thousands of hills.
The State of West Virginia still does not have a water plan, except to allow the selling of local water companies to a multi-national conglomerate.
If water follows suit of the state's other natural resources, it will be owned by giant corporations, mostly out-of-state.
Seven southern counties are experiencing a moderate drought as fall forest fire season approaches.
The U.S. Drought Monitor released yesterday shows the worst conditions are in Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
All or portions of 33 other counties have abnormally dry conditions.
Rain is expected today, although most of it is expected to fall in eastern portions of the state where no drought conditions exist.
Drought conditions spread to 46 counties last summer and fall, with severe conditions in at least nine counties.
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