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Section 3 – Risk Assessment and <br />Vulnerability Analysis <br />The goal of mitigation is to reduce or eliminate the future impacts of a hazard, including loss of life, <br />property damage, disruption to local and regional economies, and the expenditure of public and private <br />funds for recovery. Sound mitigation practices must be based on sound risk assessment. A risk <br />assessment involves quantifying the potential loss resulting from a disaster by assessing the <br />vulnerability of buildings, infrastructure, and people. <br />The risk assessments in this plan are based on widely accepted tools and databases, consultation <br />with hazard mitigation planning expertise at FEMA and HSEM, and technical guidance from the MN <br />DNR State Climatology Office. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools are used throughout to <br />demonstrate geographically based risk and vulnerabilities. <br />3.1 Natural Hazard Identification <br />This assessment identifies the characteristics of natural hazard events, the severity of the risk, the <br />likelihood of these events occurring, and the vulnerability of each jurisdiction’s population and assets. <br />See a list of all natural hazards covered in the 2025 HMP <br />The cornerstone of risk assessment is identifying the hazards that affect jurisdictions. Listed below <br />are the natural hazards addressed in the 2024 Minnesota State Hazard Mitigation Plan: <br />Flooding Lightning Drought <br />Dam/Levee Failure Winter Storms Extreme Heat <br />Wildfires Landslides (Erosion and Extreme Cold <br />Windstorms Mudslides) Earthquakes <br />Tornadoes Land Subsidence (Sinkholes Coastal Erosion & Flooding <br />Hailand Karst) <br /> <br />3.1.1 Hazard Prioritization <br />As part of the plan update process, the planning team reviewed, updated, and prioritized the hazards <br />faced by residents of Anoka County, updated the existing mitigation actions published in the 2019 <br />HMP, and proposed new mitigation actions. <br />The team examined the hazards identified in the 2019 HMP and adjusted them to reflect the <br />definitions of natural hazards used in the 2024 Minnesota State Hazard Mitigation Plan. <br />While this HMP focuses on natural hazards, planning took place with the understanding that many <br />non-natural hazards could occur due to natural disasters (e.g., disruption in electrical service due to <br />downed powerlines from heavy snow, ice storms, or high wind events). <br />20 <br /> <br />