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<br />Ramsey County | Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan 77 <br />• Changes in Hail Patterns: There is the potential for increase in the size and frequency of hail due <br />to more intense thunderstorms, as well as shifts in the geographic distribution of hailstorms. <br />• More Intense Storms: Greater frequency of severe thunderstorms with high winds and heavy <br />rainfall and subsequent increased risk of flash flooding. <br />• Health Risks: Extreme heat can lead to increased heat-related illnesses and mortality and a <br />higher risk of respiratory problems due to poor air quality. Higher temperatures can exacerbate <br />air quality issues, leading to more smog and ground-level ozone. <br />• Economic Costs: Rising temperatures create a greater demand for energy to cool homes and <br />businesses, and there may be increased costs for repairing damage from severe weather <br />incidents. Ecosystem impacts can have trickle down effects on related industries such as fishing <br />and tourism. Likewise, agricultural impacts affect the agricultural and farming sectors. <br />• Ecosystem Disruptions: Increased heat, along with more frequent, intense, and prolonged <br />storms, may alter plant and animal behavior and distribution by stressing native species and <br />ecosystems. Over the past 50 years, Minnesota lakes have lost an average of 10 to 14 days of ice <br />cover, and July-August water temperatures have risen by 3.0 to 3.9°F, impacting lake and fish <br />health. Algae blooms, exacerbated by warmer water, can deplete oxygen levels, suffocating fish, <br />even those species like bass that typically thrive in warmer conditions. Northern tree species <br />such as paper birch, quaking aspen, balsam fir, and black spruce may decline and migrate <br />further north, while warmer-climate species like maples, oaks, and hickories could take their <br />place. These shifts in tree cover will also lead to changes in wildlife and soil habitats. <br />While the exact relationship between climate change and summer weather is complex and still under <br />active research, the evidence suggests that climate change is likely to impact the frequency, intensity, <br />and distribution of summer weather hazards in the Midwest. Improved understanding and modeling of <br />these changes are essential for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. <br />3.11.7 VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT <br />3.11.7.1 People <br />Extreme heat poses serious health risks, particularly for the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing <br />health conditions, as well as people without access to air conditioning. Extreme heat is the leading <br />weather-related killer in the United States, killing more people than other types of extreme weather. <br />Changing temperatures bring illnesses related to frequency and severity of allergic illnesses (e.g., asthma <br />and hay fever). Prolonged heatwaves can lead to heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and increased mortality <br />rates. During the second planning meeting, attendees noted that in Ramsey County, many of the recent <br />immigrants are not used to hotter weather and often live many people to a home, often without air <br />conditioning. <br />Hailstorms, often accompanying severe thunderstorms, can cause significant injury to individuals caught <br />outside and disrupt daily activities. Lightning presents another serious threat, with the potential to <br />cause direct injuries or fatalities and ignite fires, posing additional risks to both urban and rural <br />communities.