Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Johnson County Rural Fire Department #4

VOLUNTEER AR 1 Stations
8,372
Est. Population
34.3
Sq Miles
244
Density / Sq Mi
2
Census Tracts
Very High
NRI Risk Rating

Service Area Overview

Your department boundary, station locations, and overall NRI risk scores by census tract. Use the sections below to explore specific hazards, fire risk indicators, and EMS demand drivers across your service area.

Service area, population, and census tract assignments are based on department boundaries from NERIS Public. Boundary accuracy varies by jurisdiction.

Natural Hazard Risk

What this means for planning: With a risk score of 97.4 (Very High nationally), tornado is your leading natural hazard. Focus on rapid damage assessment, search and rescue in collapsed structures, and coordination with emergency management on warning systems and community shelter locations.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

Sorted by life-safety impact. Life-safety loss uses FEMA’s Value of Statistical Life ($13.7M per fatality or 10 injuries). NRI methodology

Hazard Risk Score Rating Life-Safety Loss
$/yr
Total Loss
$/yr
Tornado TOP LIFE-SAFETY HAZARD 97.4 Very High $784K/yr $885K/yr
Heat Wave 93.7 Very High $356K/yr $356K/yr
River Flood 91.1 Very High $269K/yr $2.3M/yr
Lightning 98.5 Very High $145K/yr $150K/yr
Cold Wave 74.6 Relatively High $137K/yr $193K/yr

How to read this map: Colors show absolute national risk levels (red = Very High nationally, green = Very Low nationally). These are objective hazard comparisons across all U.S. communities.

Historical Disaster Declarations

Your county has experienced 7 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 17 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2026-01-24Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2025-04-05Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
2020-08-27HurricaneHURRICANE LAURA
2020-04-03BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19

Demographics & Vulnerability

Why This Matters

Your community's demographics shape everything: from where you need smoke alarm programs to how many of your calls are EMS. The data below identifies who generates the most emergency demand, who faces the greatest barriers during emergencies, and who benefits most from targeted CRR outreach.

Age Distribution

Age drives EMS call volume (highest utilization: 65+ and especially 75+, with elevated rates also among children under 5), shapes fire safety education priorities, and determines evacuation assistance needs. The dark marker on each bar shows the national average.

Under 5
6.5% (544)
Ages 5-17
18.3% (1,533)
Ages 18-64
57.9% (4,845)
Ages 65-74
7.5% (632)
Ages 75-84
8.2% (683)
Ages 85+
1.6% (135)
Your Community
National Average

Social Vulnerability Indicators

These indicators identify populations that need additional support during emergencies, face barriers to self-evacuation or medical access, and benefit most from proactive CRR programming.

Vulnerability Factor Your Community Peer Average National Average vs. Peers
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, evacuation assistance needs, accessible communication requirements
23.9% 22.4% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
26.6% 23.4% 12.5% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
8.8% 16.0% 8.3% 1.8x lower
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
8.3% 0.9% 4.3% 9.3x higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
6.6% 7.7% 8.7% ≈ average
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
28.2% 25.0% 6.7% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$38,785
Peers: $48,544 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$21,249
Peers: $26,992 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$132,249
Peers: $122,101 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 14.0% of housing units are vacant, slightly higher the national average. Vacant properties have elevated fire risk due to lack of maintenance, unauthorized access, and delayed detection. Work with code enforcement on vacant property inspections and securing abandoned structures.

How to read this map: Colors show relative risk within your jurisdiction (red = highest-need tracts, green = lowest-need). Check the table below for overall levels vs. peers and national averages.

Risk Factor Your Community Peer Average National Average vs. Peers
Pre-1980 Housing
Pre-1980 construction standards
41.5% 26.8% 36.3% 1.5x higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
2.3% 9.4% 1.4% 4.2x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
14.0% 17.1% 10.3% slightly lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
11.8% 20.8% 5.8% 1.8x lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
35.0% 28.1% 34.7% slightly higher

EMS Risk Factors

EMS typically accounts for 60-80% of fire department call volume nationally. The demographics below are the strongest predictors of where that demand comes from in your service area.

What this means for planning: 23.9% of residents have a disability, 1.8x higher the national average. Residents with disabilities have higher EMS utilization and may require specialized evacuation assistance, accessible communication during emergencies, and coordination with social services. Consider functional needs assessments in pre-incident planning and partnerships with disability advocacy organizations.

How to read this map: Colors show relative risk within your jurisdiction (red = highest-need tracts, green = lowest-need). Check the table below for overall levels vs. peers and national averages.

Risk Factor Your Community Peer Average National Average vs. Peers
Population 65+
Highest EMS utilization group
17.3% 16.9% 17.4% ≈ average
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
23.9% 22.4% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
6.6% 7.7% 8.7% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
8.8% 16.0% 8.3% 1.8x lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
26.6% 23.4% 12.5% ≈ average

Peer Comparison

Departments similar to yours in size, type, density class, and region. Peer benchmarks contextualize your community risk profile and support “demonstrated need” narratives in grant applications.

Department State Population Risk Score 65+ % Poverty % Stations
Johnson County Rural Fire Department #4 (You) AR 8,372 89.4 17.3% 26.6% 1
Jay Fire Department OK 8,210 89.7 17.3% 22.1% 1
Johnson County Rural Fire Department 8 AR 8,957 89.3 19.2% 17.7% 1
Hodgen Rural Volunteer Fire Department Association OK 8,585 89 15.3% 25.6% 1
West Siloam Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Department OK 8,089 90 19.3% 23.2% 1

Your Community Risk Profile Is Half the Story

This page shows what your community faces. Connecting your NERIS data shows the other half: where response is slowest in your highest-risk areas, whether you're meeting NFPA benchmarks, and how your CRR investments are performing against actual demand.

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