` Ramsey County-Wide Emergency Operations Plan Revision 5.1,June,2005
<br /> SITUATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS
<br /> SITUATION:
<br /> Ramsey County is approximately 170.2 square miles in size and is located
<br /> in the southeast central "Metropolitan" portion of the State of Minnesota. It
<br /> is bordered by Anoka County on the North; Washington County on the
<br /> East; the Mississippi River and Dakota County on the South; and
<br /> Hennepin County to the West. Ramsey County's largest city, St. Paul, is
<br /> also the State Capitol.
<br /> The adjusted 2000 census population of Ramsey County is 511,035. The
<br /> largest cities are St. Paul (the State Capitol)— population 287,151;
<br /> Roseville — population 33,690; and Maplewood — population 34,947.
<br /> The county encompasses all of 16 municipalities: Arden Hills, Falcon
<br /> Heights, Gem Lake, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Maplewood, Mounds
<br /> View, New Brighton, North Oaks, North St. Paul, Roseville, St. Paul,
<br /> Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, and White Bear Township.
<br /> In addition, portions of the cities of Blaine, St. Anthony, and Spring Lake
<br /> Park are within the county's borders. Those cities and the city of St. Paul
<br /> maintain separate emergency plans and are not covered by this
<br /> document.
<br /> There is a highly sophisticated transportation system in place including
<br /> nearby Minneapolis — St. Paul International Airport and the St. Paul
<br /> Downtown Airport (Holman Field), Amtrak passenger rail service, various
<br /> railroad freight services, Interstates 94, 694, 494 and 35W and 35E,
<br /> various U.S. Highways, and numerous State Highway Routes. There is
<br /> also considerable boat and barge traffic on the Mississippi River and the
<br /> lakes located within our borders.
<br /> Ramsey County is vulnerable to effects of natural disasters such as
<br /> severe summer storms, floods, tornadoes, winter storms and fires.
<br /> Ramsey County is also vulnerable to a variety of human-caused hazards
<br /> such as hazardous materials accidents, major transportation accidents,
<br /> nuclear power plant incidents, civil disorders, terrorism, nuclear attack,
<br /> acts of war, dam failures, research and development, etc.
<br /> The population density of Ramsey County is so great, and the geographic
<br /> area small enough, that small-scale events might pose significant risk to
<br /> persons and property. The potential scope and impact of these
<br /> emergencies may vary from a minor emergency requiring minimum
<br /> response to a major emergency which requires maximum response,
<br /> depending on time of day, weather conditions, time of year, warning time,
<br /> location and the type of emergency or disaster.
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