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<br />Ramser COlin tv- It 'ide 1:"lIlelgl'nCl' Opera/ions Plan Revision 5.1, Jllne, ](J05
<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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