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• <br />Anoka County Multi - Jurisdictional <br />All Hazards Mitigation Plan <br />businesses for a day with the loss of business and residents suffering in the cold temperatures. <br />The most severe storm in modern history occurred on January 17, 1996. The winter storm <br />started out with heavy rain, and then turned to snow. Thick ice caused downed trees, branches, <br />and power lines. The likelihood of occurrence is moderate; the loss impact of future occurrence <br />is high. <br />Oak Grove, Centerville and the City of Columbus also experience severe Winter Storms. The <br />worst in recent history was New Years Day 2005. All jurisdictions report power outages and <br />trees down. In Centerville the water tower froze resulting in no water to residents and <br />businesses. <br />Coon Rapids also experiences frequent Winter Storms. The worst in recent history was the <br />Halloween storm of 1991, where 28- inches of snow fell continuously in a three -day period. <br />Roads were impassable, schools closed, businesses closed, public works and emergency <br />crews working non -stop to respond to incidents and re -open transportation routes. The <br />likelihood of future occurrence is high and the impact moderate. <br />Hilltop experienced an ice storm in January 2003. The entire city was affected. There was <br />interruption of electric service to the city water tower and 75 manufactured homes. No <br />permanent damage resulted. The likelihood of occurrence is moderate and the loss impact from <br />future occurrence is minimal. <br />On October 31, 1991, the City of Spring Lake Park experienced a severe Winter Storm. Streets <br />were closed. Some state highways were closed to vehicular traffic due to snow depth and <br />quantity. There were power outages to many residents and businesses. There was a complete <br />shut down of businesses and schools. The likelihood of future occurrences is high but the <br />impact is low. <br />During periods of extreme cold, water towers and water lines, particularly in low- income <br />residences with sub - standard insulation, freeze and break, leaving residents without water and <br />creating a burden on the public and private infrastructure. <br />While each municipality is affected, snow and ice have a greater impact on the rural, <br />unincorporated areas of the county. Roads in remote areas may be impassible for several days <br />until the county highway department can complete clearing of county- maintained roads. <br />Since 1962 there have been 81 reported incidences of severe winter weather that has impacted <br />Anoka County and its municipalities resulting in 9 fatalities and 104 injuries. Structure damage is <br />reported to have been $286,436 and content loss $1,156,943. In this case content loss includes <br />crop loss. <br />The probability of future winter storm events is moderate to high, and the entire county is at <br />equal risk. A detailed list of Winter Weather events is in Appendix A. <br />4.3.1.12 Wildfires <br />Wildfires are incidents of uncontrolled burning in grasslands, brush, or woodlands. In <br />Minnesota, significant wild -land fires do not occur on an annual basis. However, several <br />hundred lesser events occur annually across the entire state. Seasonal wild fires have been <br />destructive, especially during periods of drought. <br />