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Ramsey County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2018 Page | 50 Windstorms and Climate Change Lack of high-quality long-term data sets make assessment of changes in wind speeds very difficult (Kunkel, et al., 2013). One analysis generally found no evidence of significant changes in wind speed distribution. Other trends in severe storms, including the numbers of hurricanes and the intensity and frequency of tornadoes, hail, and damaging thunderstorm winds are uncertain. Since the impact of more frequent or intense storms can be larger than the impact of average temperature, climate scientists are actively researching the connections between climate change and severe storms (National Climate Assessment Development Advisory Committee, 2013). Vulnerability The magnitude of summer storms each year is unpredictable within Ramsey County and the vulnerability of jurisdictions to windstorms does not vary geographically. The vulnerability of each jurisdiction to severe summer storms has not changed due to any development in the last 5 years. Plans and Programs in Place Ramsey County Emergency Operations Plan, Ramsey County COOP/COG Plan; Ramsey County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, THIRA – Ramsey County maintains several different plans including an Emergency Operations Plan, a Ramsey County COOP/COG Plan and the Ramsey County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan which are designed as guides for emergency and/or recovery operations. These plans are intended to assist key county/municipal officials and emergency organizations to carry out their responsibilities for the protection of life and property under a wide range of emergency conditions. Public Warning and Notification – In the event of emergencies or hazardous conditions that require timely and targeted communication to the public, Ramsey County utilizes the Everbridge Mass Notification System, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Ramsey County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Facebook page, and local news media. Ramsey County promotes the use of NOAA weather radios by critical facilities and the public to receive information broadcast from the National Weather Service. Local television & radio stations assist with sharing public information. Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center has recently upgraded its siren system to be fully functional with the use of polygon-based warnings. Tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service will automatically sound sirens inside or very near the polygon. Summer Weather Watches/Advisories/Warnings – Summer storm watches, advisories, warnings are initiated by the National Weather Service. The Emergency warning system is activated by the dispatch center as directed. Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center’s Outdoor Warning Siren procedure can be viewed here: https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/emergency-response- preparedness/emergency-preparedness-management/preparing-disaster. Residents are also encouraged to receive warnings by NOAA weather radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts and other means. Ramsey County has COOP/COG plans in place. Ramsey County also uses both the county website and social media to broadcast information to employees. Outdoor Warning Sirens – There are 91 outdoor warning sirens deployed around Ramsey County. Of these 91 sirens, 55 are in suburban Ramsey County and 36 are in Saint Paul. In 2015, Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center started a project to integrate two separate outdoor warning siren systems into a single, county-wide system using Federal Signal’s CommanderOne system. Under the