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PC Exhibit B <br />Hennepin County Memo <br />Hennepin County Emergency Management Phone: 612-596-0757 <br />1600 Prairie Drive Fax: 763-478-4001 <br />Medina MN 55340-5421 TDD: 763-478-4030 <br />Date: November 30, 2016 <br />To: City of Orono <br />From: Sarah Karel, Meteorology Coordinator — Hennepin County Emergency Management <br />Subject: Hennepin County Orono Truck Shop Weather Station <br />Accurate and timely weather, climate, and hydrologic data are essential to maintain the health, safety and <br />welfare of Hennepin County communities. Hennepin County Emergency Management is developing the <br />Hennepin West Mesonet to closely monitor hazards. Violent weather that forms tornadoes, extreme <br />winds, lightning, hail and flash flooding can strike quickly during the summer. In winter, blizzards, <br />sustained heat waves and arctic cold blasts can harm vulnerable people. Deep frosts can disable essential <br />services such as water and sewer. Detailed weather information is also critical to public alert and <br />emergency operations including severe weather warning, firefighting, flood control, and toxic material <br />response, for example. Currently, official weather sensors are designed and located to serve just a few <br />sectors, principally aviation and major freeway networks, Hennepin County Emergency Management is <br />building a system that leverages existing official weather sensors, and identifies and fills and coverage <br />gaps. The system also adds important new capabilities that will aid decision making by governments and <br />emergency responders. This software project will ensure that Hennepin West Mesonet data will also be <br />easily accessible to researches, industry and the public to multiple uses and benefits of this information. A <br />30 foot aluminum structure holds most of the sensors that detect wind speed, direction, temperature, <br />humidity and barometric pressure. Rain gauges and soil sensors are placed on or in the ground nearby. <br />Stations use solar energy and require no external power. Data is sent via cellular phone or radio to the <br />network data base. A steel base is used with iron rods in each corner to keep it firm on the ground. 3 guy <br />wires are screw anchored into the ground to keep tower from tipping or swaying. Total construction from <br />start to finish takes 2-3 days and is done by Hennepin County Emergency Management. <br />Our partner coalition currently includes: The National Weather Service (NWS), the Minnesota <br />Department of Transportation, City of Minneapolis, Three Rivers Par District, Mirmehaha Watershed <br />District, Wright -Hennepin Cooperative Electric, City of Maple Grove, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota <br />Natural Resources — State Climatology Office. <br />Sincerel <br />C'Jt �'� <br />Sarah Karel <br />Meteorology Coordinator <br />RECEIVED <br />DEC 1-2 2016 <br />`'' Q � CITY OF ORONO <br />f�,r1 <br />