Resolution 7478 hazard mitigation

Home Browse Search

2024 Hennepin County All -Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2 — Hazard Inventory extreme losses, including 49 deaths in Minnesota alone- many of whom were stranded motorists who could not navigate the enormous snow drifts that were up to 15 feet high in open sections of Hennepin County. Over a dozen of the dead were hunters who were dressed for pleasant weather and were caught off -guard and stranded on islands in the Mississippi River. One train derailed, two were involved in a head-on collision, and one could not complete its route because of the snow. The regional death toll exceeds 150, with many of the non -Minnesota deaths coming from numerous capsized Great lakes vessels. "Storm of the Century'; January 10-12, 1975. Formed by a then -record -setting low pressure system, this storm only produced 4-8" of snow in the Twin Cities but hit areas to the west and north much harder. There, hurricane -force winds gusts and blinding snowfall were common, with accumulations of up to 27 inches and drifts of 10- 20 feet in open country. Ice accumulated over one inch in parts of southwestern and southern Minnesota, and the combination of ice, heavy snow, and severe winds produced thousands of power and telephone outages. The storm claimed the lives of 35 Minnesotans, 21 of whom suffered heart attacks. The Red Cross provided food and shelter to over 17,000 people. Despite the heavy losses, the storm was well anticipated, and forecasts are credited with keeping the casualty toll in check. Back -to -Back Record -Breakers, January 20-22, 1982. A low-pressure system interacting with an exceptionally air mass in retreat produced a broad swath of heavy snow over much of Minnesota on January 20. Widespread daily totals of 10-20 inches were common, and the Twin Cities recorded 17.1", which broke the all-time daily snowfall record that had been set during the Armistice Day storm. As the storm wound down and exited the region on the 21", a more potent low-pressure system emerged from the Colorado Plains. This system intensified and moved into the region on the 22nd producing heavy snow, sleet, ice, thunder, and blizzard conditions, prompting the closure of interstates 90 and 35 for part of the day. Snowfall totals of 10-20 inches were again common, this time over an even larger area. The Twin Cities recorded 17.2" on the 22nd, breaking the all-time snowfall record that had been set just two days earlier. The extreme snow loads from these storms —in many cases greater than 30 inches —caused many residential and commercial roof failures. "Wall of White" blizzard, February 4, 1984. A fast-moving low-pressure system and cold front charged through Minnesota, producing 2-4 inches of light powdery snow and sustained winds more than 40 mph, with gusts as high as 75 mph. The snow and wind were unexpected and moved southward at up to 50 mph. The sudden onset of the blizzard caused severe traffic problems in rural areas, where visibilities fell to zero and snow drifts covered many roads. Cars stalled in the snow, spun out, and motorists who ventured out were subjected to subzero temperatures and 40-60 mph winds. The storm killed 21 people in a matter of hours, almost all from exposure, and almost all of whom had been in stranded vehicles. This storm remains the most lethal single weather event in 175