(MSC News)--Updated Kansas drought declarations are approved, through Executive Order, by Governor Laura Kelly, with that move placing the bulk of the local area under a drought watch, with those local counties joining a total of 32 placed under that status.

According to a release from Kelly's office, 55 counties are now in emergency status, while 18 counties are in a warning status.

The local counties under a drought watch are Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall and Nemaha. Pottawatomie County is the only local county placed in the drought warning division.

The Executive Order, which will remain in effect until rescinded by a future Executive Order, means the Governor- Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the negative drought-induced effects on Kansans, with the release explaining that through an interagency agreement between the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes. These counties also become eligible for water in some federal reservoirs.

The action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor- Drought Response Team.

While most of western Kansas have seen relief from drought in the last two months, central and southeast Kansas have continued to be dry, with nearly 30 percent of Kansas currently in extreme or exceptional drought.