Monroe County Hazard Analysis

Air Transportation Accidents

A crash or accident involving a commercial passenger airplane

• Monroe County is in the glide path of Detroit's Metropolitan Airport which serves more than 35 million passengers a year. There were 2 non-commercial and 1 commercial aircraft accidents in Monroe County in 1997.

Dams

• The River Raisin has one dam, the Waterloo Dam, located in the city of Monroe that is considered a significant hazard potential.

Failure of dams located in Saline and Milan could create a flooding event for those persons that reside along the River Raisin.

Fixed Hazardous Material Sites

• Monroe County has almost 80 sites designated "extremely hazardous" by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hazardous Materials Transportation Emergencies

An uncontrolled release of hazardous materials during transport.

• Monroe County has six major transportation artery's feeding the Detroit metropolitan area. In addition, two railroad lines, and one loading and receiving port for Great Lakes freighters.  

National Security Threats

Any hostile action taken against the United States which results in destruction of military and/or civilian targets.

• Monroe County has two significant critical infrastructures - the Monroe Electrical Power Generating Plant, and the Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant. These two facilities alone generate about half of all of southeast Michigan's power.

• Monroe County is located with the 50 mile Emergency Planning Zone of the Davis Bessie Nuclear Power Plant.

Radioactive Release

 The release of radioactive material at a nuclear power plant or other facility with radioactive material that exceeds federal limits.

• Monroe County has 1 Nuclear Power Plant - the Detroit Edison Enrico Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Station.

• Monroe County is located in the 50-mile EPZ of the Davis Besse Nuclear Power Station located in Port Clinton, Ohio.

Oil and Gas Pipelines

An uncontrolled release of oil or gas from a pipeline

• Monroe County has
  1. 4 crude oil pipelines
  2. 4 petroleum product pipelines
  3. 2 gas pipelines

Shoreline Flooding

The flooding of shoreline areas caused by high Great Lakes water levels, storm surges, or winds.

• The Lake Erie shoreline is considered an at risk area.

Presidential Declarations

1. 3/12 - 20/82 - Flooding - Major Disaster

Governors Declarations

1. 3/19/82 - Flooding - Disaster

2. 4/13/85 - Great Lakes flooding & wave action - Disaster

3. 2/12/86 - Great Lakes flooding & wave action - Disaster

Snow Storms

A period of rapid accumulation of snow often accompanied by high winds, cold temperature, and low visibility.

• Monroe County's annual snow fall could reach up to 40 inches.

Presidential Declarations

1. January  26-31, 1977 - Blizzard Snowstorm - Emergency

2. January  26-27, 1978 - Blizzard Snowstorm - Emergency

Hailstorms

A condition where atmospheric water particles from thunderstorms form into rounded or irregular lumps of ice that fall to the earth

• From 1970 - 1989 Monroe County had 8 or more hailstorms that generated hailstones greater than or equal to 3/4 inch. 50% of the storms occur during the months of June and July.

Lightning

The discharge of electricity from within a thunderstorm.

• From 1970 - 1989 there were 2 deaths in Monroe County as a result of lightning.

• From 1970 - 1989 there were 6 injuries in Monroe County as a result of lighting.

• 83% of lightning injuries occur within the months of June, July and August.

Tornadoes

An intense rotating column of wind that extends from the  base of a severe thunderstorm to the ground.

• Monroe County experienced 27 tornadoes from 1950-1996

• June has been the worst month in Michigan for tornadoes with 22% of tornadoes occurring during this month.