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<br />Ramsey County | Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan 104 <br />• Water contamination – In 2017, elevated levels of lead were detected in drinking water in <br />sections of Saint Paul, prompting a response to improve water safety measures. <br />3.15.5 PROBABILITY <br />The overall probability of infrastructure failures in Ramsey County is likely moderate, with some high risk <br />during extreme weather events. The most likely causes of such failures include severe winter weather, <br />flooding, and other weather-related events. Aging transportation infrastructure, such as road and <br />bridges, and human caused impacts to communication systems and power grids can also increase the <br />probability of failure. <br />3.15.6 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS <br />Climate change may have profound impacts on infrastructure, leading to failures in the identified <br />systems. Extreme weather events, specifically temperature extremes, are most likely to impact Ramsey <br />County. <br />Possible impacts include: <br />• Transportation - Damaged roads, bridges, and railways from buckling road washouts, landslides, <br />and structural failures. <br />• Electrical and Fuel Shortages – Damage to power lines, substations, and power plants, leading to <br />outages. Extreme temperatures can also lead to increased demand, putting additional strain on <br />electrical grids. <br />• Supply Chain Disruption – temperature changes can affect transportation infrastructure, <br />delaying or restricting the delivery of goods and raw materials, as well as affecting the storage <br />and preservation of goods. Climate change can also lead to resource scarcity, affecting the <br />availability of raw materials. <br />• Water Contamination – Flooding and increased runoff can overwhelm sewage and wastewater <br />systems, introducing pollutants into water supplies. <br />3.15.7 VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT <br />Communities, including Ramsey County, are increasingly vulnerable to various types of infrastructure <br />failures, which can significantly impact daily life, economic stability, and public health. <br />3.15.7.1 People <br />Infrastructure failure can have immediate and long-term health consequences, including injuries and <br />fatalities, disease outbreaks, and limited access to healthcare and emergency services. The community <br />can also suffer economic impacts from job losses, increased costs for basic needed, and economic <br />instability. <br />3.15.7.2 Property <br />Residents and businesses can suffer damages from accidents, power surges, and structural failures. <br />Supply chain disruptions can impact property development and ongoing maintenance.