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Ramsey County | Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan 17 • Native American or Alaska Native: 0.8% • Other: 2.9% Minnesota is a designated refugee settlement area, and the county's diverse population includes significant immigrant communities. In 2018, the largest groups of foreign-born Minnesotans were born in Mexico (about 64,500); Somalia (33,500); India (30,200); Laos, including Hmong (24,400); Vietnam (18,600); China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (18,600); Ethiopia (21,900); and Thailand, including Hmong (18,500). These estimates do not include U.S.-born children of these immigrants. They also likely underestimate the size of our immigrant populations because trust and language issues reduce response rates to Census surveys. Fifty-one percent of Minnesota's foreign-born population are naturalized U.S. citizens. Age Distribution The age distribution in Ramsey County reflects both a growing youth population and an aging community, with a median age of 36.4, slightly younger than the state median age of 39.1: • 17 years and younger: 23.1% • 18-24 years: 9.6% • 25-34 years: 16.2% • 35-44 years: 13.1% • 45-54 years: 10.9% • 55-64 years: 11.9% • 65 years and older: 15.1% Understanding the composition, geographical distribution, and capability considerations of these diverse populations is essential, as these groups traditionally have heightened vulnerabilities before, during and after hazard events, particularly young children, the elderly, people with disabilities and serious health conditions, people who are socially isolated, and households with limited English proficiencies. 2.4 Social Vulnerability The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a critical tool used to assess the resilience of communities in the face of hazards. The SVI measures various factors that influence a community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. In Ramsey County, these factors are essential for identifying populations that may be disproportionately affected by natural and human-made hazards. According to the latest SVI data, Ramsey County has an overall SVI score of 0.9419 (from a range of 0 to 1), indicating that the county’s vulnerability level is high compared to other counties across the country. Higher SVI scores reflect greater social vulnerability, which can increase the risks associated with hazard events. Disparities that persist in society, including social, economic, and health inequities, and which have impacted the historically disadvantages and underserved populations throughout the County, can be exacerbated by the impacts of extreme weather events. Periods of extreme heat, winter storms or