Resolution 7478 hazard mitigation

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2024 Hennepin County All -Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2 — Hazard Inventory St to"'N �.... CLIMATE ADAPTATION CONSIDERATIONS 3.1.1. Climate Adaptation Climate includes patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, and seasons. Climate plays a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems and the human economies and cultures that depend on the. Climate adaptation refers to the ability of a system to adjust to climate change to moderate potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines adaptation as the "adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment". Adaptation to climate change refers to adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. 3.1.2. Hennepin West Mesonet (HWM) In order to adapt to climate change, Hennepin County has built the Hennepin West Mesonet, a network of remote sensors which provide highly accurate, near real-time measurements of weather, soil and water conditions. Recent experiences across the Twin Cities metro area reveal a long-standing vulnerability to dangerous weather or human -caused conditions that form very quickly without clear advance indications. Fatal tornadoes in Rogers, MN (2006) and in North Minneapolis, MN (2011) both point to a need for more complete and rapid surface observations from a network of sensors spread across the area. A fatal landslide in Saint Paul, MN (2013) also shows that near real time soil temperature and saturation data across the metro could be useful in providing alerts for evolving dangerous conditions. Other vulnerabilities exist in our area to rapid -onset flash flooding, straight-line winds or hazardous materials releases which require many sensors with quick detection capability to provide useful public warning or evacuation decision -making. The Hennepin West Mesonet delivers normal at different temporal resolutions, thus providing more precise climate monitoring. Through climate monitoring, the HWM provides an essential service and benefit of observing and precisely detecting impacts on the environment and ecosystems both at the geospatial and temporal scale in Hennepin County. Archived data and current observations provide consistent and high -quality information from decision -makers and researchers, information that can be utilized for development of research and prediction models, improving understanding of climate variability, advancing public climate education, and supporting development of mitigation and/or adaptation measures for local communities. 11