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Ramsey County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2018 Page | 75 Hazus Essential Facility Loss Analysis Essential facilities encounter the same impacts as other buildings within the flood boundary: structural failure, extensive water damage to the facility, and loss of facility functionality (i.e. a damaged police station will no longer be able to serve the community). However, none of Ramsey County’s essential facilities (care facilities, fire stations, police stations and schools) included in the Hazus analysis are located within the flood boundary. Hazus Shelter Requirement Analysis Hazus estimates the number of households that are expected to be displaced from their homes due to the flood and the associated potential evacuation. Hazus also estimates those displaced people that may require accommodations in temporary public shelters. The model estimates 2,015 households may be displaced due to the flood. Displacement includes households evacuated from within or very near to the inundated area. Of these, the model estimates 342 people (out of a total population of 508,640) may seek temporary shelter in public shelters. Hazus Debris Generation Analysis Hazus estimates the amount of debris that may be generated by the flood. The model breaks debris into 3 general categories: 1) Finishes (dry wall, insulation, etc.), 2) Structural (wood, brick, etc.) and 3) Foundations (concrete slab, concrete block, rebar, etc.). This distinction is made because of the different types of material handling equipment required to handle the debris. The model estimates that a total of 16,961 tons of debris will be generated. Of the total amount, Finishes comprises 61% of the total, Structural comprises 23% of the total, and Foundation comprises 16%. If the debris tonnage is converted into an estimated number of truckloads, it would require 679 truckloads (@25 tons/truck) to remove the debris generated by the flood. Flooding and Climate Change As Minnesota’s climate changes, the quantity and character of precipitation is changing. Average precipitation has increased in the Midwest since 1900, with more increases in recent years. The Midwest has seen a 45% increase in very heavy precipitation (defined as the heaviest 1% of all daily events) from 1958 to 2011 (National Climate Assessment Development Advisory Committee, 2013). This precipitation change has led to amplified magnitudes of flooding. Increased precipitation may also show seasonal changes, trending toward wetter springs and drier summers and falls. An example of a recent year with this character was 2012, when many MN counties were eligible for federal disaster assistance for drought, while others were eligible for flooding, and 7 were eligible for both in the same year (Seeley M. , 2013). In 2007, 24 Minnesota counties received drought designation, while 7 counties were declared flood disasters. In 2012, 55 Minnesota counties received federal drought designation at the same time 11 counties declared flood emergencies. In addition, the yearly frequency of the largest storms – those with 3 inches or more of rainfall in a single day – has more than doubled in just over 50 years. In the past decade, such dramatic rains have increased by more than 7% (MN Environmental Quality Board, 2014). Southeastern Minnesota has experienced three 1000-year floods in the past decade: in September 2004, August 2007 and September 2010 (Meador, 2013). The 2004 flood occurred when parts of south- central Minnesota received over 8 inches of precipitation. Faribault and Freeborn counties received over 10 inches in 36 hours. The deluge led to numerous reports of stream flooding, urban flooding, mudslides