Key findings
Largest differences from the national picture; each card links to the detail below.Community Risk Assessment
in partnership with Vision 20/20This page assembles the public-data foundation of a Community Risk Assessment for Sarasota County Fire Department. The Vision 20/20 Community Risk Assessment Guide walks through the full process in six steps:
- 1Identify risksThis page
- 2Prioritize risksThis page + CRA/SOC risk matrix
- 3Develop strategies and tacticsCRA/SOC
- 4Prepare the CRR planCRA/SOC
- 5Implement the planResponse Analytics
- 6Monitor, evaluate, and modifyResponse Analytics
Steps 1 and 2 start here: incident data, demographics, vulnerability factors, and natural hazard risk across your service area. The remaining steps are local work with your crews and community partners, and the tags show where our paid plans help.
Service Area Overview
Your department boundary, station locations, and population density by census tract. Switch to block-group resolution for a finer view. The sections below cover community vulnerability, fire and EMS risk drivers, and natural hazards across your service area.
Reading the map: Darker blue shows denser areas (more residents per square mile). Density shapes where call volume concentrates and how much distance separates residents from your stations.
Service area, population, and census tract assignments are based on department boundaries from NERIS Public. Boundary accuracy varies by jurisdiction. View this department’s boundary record or download the polygon as GeoJSON straight from the source (no login).
Reported Incident Activity
Source: NERIS Public Incident Basics; window June 2025 through May 2026; as of the September 2026 refresh
Counts from the NERIS public feed; 6 of 12 window months on file; the first report on the feed is from December 2025. Coverage varies as departments transition from NFIRS to NERIS.
EMS Call Trends
Fire Incident Trends
Service & Special Calls
Charts start at December 2025, the department’s first month on the public feed, and run through the last settled feed month; a month at zero means no reports reached the feed. Busiest month on file: March 2026, 6,073 reports; reporting has held full monthly volume since January 2026.
By Hour of Day
By Day of Week
Incident distribution over the same window, in the department’s local time. Demand peaks around 11 AM.
Call Composition
Incidents by primary type over the window, following the NERIS incident type hierarchy.
Area of Fire Origin
Structure fires with a recorded area of origin (65 of 83 in the window; Unknown and Other excluded).
A smoke alarm was on record at 70% of the 71 structure fires with alarm status recorded (83 structure fires in the window). Working alarms are the strongest single lever on fire deaths, and the homes most likely to lack them follow the housing factors shown in the Fire Risk section below.
Prevention Opportunities
Counts from the same window for the NERIS call types that prevention programs target. The public feed shares medical subtypes only for vehicle collisions, so falls show up through lift assists.
| Call type | Reports | Prevention program |
|---|---|---|
| Lift assists | 1,804 | Falls prevention with older adults; pairs with the 75+ share shown in the EMS Risk section [CDC] |
| Motor vehicle collisions | 1,555 | Roadway safety: car seat checks, distracted-driving outreach, post-crash referrals |
| Cooking fires (confined) | 40 | Kitchen safety outreach; cooking is the leading cause of home fires nationally [NFPA] |
| Chimney fires | 1 | Heating safety pushes ahead of the cold season [NFPA] |
| Outdoor and vegetation fires | 320 | Burn permits, defensible space, wildland-interface prep |
| Gas leaks and CO | 112 | CO alarm checks alongside smoke alarm visits |
Demographics & Vulnerability
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year (2020-2024 vintage)
Demographics and Your Workload
Demographics drive both sides of your workload: where you need smoke alarm programs, and how many of your calls are EMS. The data below shows who generates the most emergency demand and who faces the greatest barriers when one happens.
Community Vulnerability
Reading the map: Overall Vulnerability is a CDC SVI-aligned composite (0 to 100; higher = more socially vulnerable, shown red), colored on a fixed national scale like the hazard map. Toggle to an individual factor (Poverty Rate, Disability Rate, etc.) and colors switch to a relative scale ranked within your own tracts, so the reddest tracts are always your highest-need ones even if your whole department scores low nationally. Switch to block-group resolution for finer detail.
Community Profile: the four CDC SVI themes
This profile is organized by the four themes of the CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index, the framework most community risk assessments use to describe which residents will need the most help in an emergency. [CDC SVI]
Factors that also drive fire deaths, EMS demand, or outreach are compared once, in the section the evidence ties them to; each theme below links to them.
Theme 1: Socioeconomic Status
Income, employment, education, and health-insurance access.
Headline figures from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS; see the table below for the full Theme 1 factor list with sourcing and relevance notes.
| Community Factor | Your Community | Peer AverageiPeer Average. Average across up to 4 peer departments matched on size band, density class, and Census region. NERIS has no department type on file for this department, so peers were not restricted to one staffing type. Used in the “vs. Peers” column throughout the page. See the methodology page for full criteria. | National Average | vs. PeersYouPeersU.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate Share of civilian labor force out of work; associated with higher stress and worse self-reported health (HHS Healthy People 2030) [HHS] |
3.3% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 1.6x lower |
| No High-School Diploma Adults 25+ without a high-school credential; CDC plain-language guidance recommends short sentences and one main idea each to broaden CRR accessibility [CDC] |
5.3% | 8.4% | 10.4% | 1.6x lower |
Also in this theme: uninsured rate 10.5%, compared in EMS Risk Factors.
Theme 2: Household Characteristics
Age, disability, family structure, and language: who's most likely to need help in an emergency.
Age drives EMS call volume, with the highest utilization among adults 65 and older and elevated rates among children under 5. It also sets fire-safety education priorities and evacuation-assistance needs. The dark marker on each bar shows the national average.
| Community Factor | Your Community | Peer Average | National Average | vs. PeersYouPeersU.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Parent Households Households with children headed by one adult; family structure associated with vulnerability in emergencies, largely via household resources [Census] |
3.5% | 7.9% | 6.1% | 2.3x lower |
| Limited-English Households Households where no adult speaks English “very well”; informs CRR materials and outreach in other languages [Census] |
2.8% | 2.3% | 4.3% | 1.2x higher |
Also in this theme: disability rate 14.3%, compared in Fire Risk and EMS Risk Factors.
Theme 3: Racial & Ethnic Minority Status
Community racial and ethnic composition.
| Community Factor | Your Community | Peer Average | National Average | vs. PeersYouPeersU.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minority Population Share of residents identifying as a race or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White [Census] |
21.0% | 49.0% | 42.7% | 2.3x lower |
Race and ethnicity are shown here because they're part of the CDC SVI and standard in community descriptions. They are deliberately excluded from the Overall Vulnerability composite above, which is built only from need-based factors (age, poverty, disability, housing, and transportation) so it doesn't use a protected characteristic as a risk proxy.
Theme 4: Housing Type & Transportation
Building type, crowding, vehicle access, and congregate living arrangements.
| Community Factor | Your Community | Peer Average | National Average | vs. PeersYouPeersU.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Unit Structures Housing in structures with 10 or more units; a CDC SVI Theme 4 variable where shared egress and alarm systems shape evacuation [CDC SVI] |
18.3% | 9.1% | 14.8% | 2.0x higher |
| Group Quarters Residents in nursing homes, assisted living, dorms, or corrections; a CDC SVI Theme 4 variable [CDC SVI] |
2.2% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 1.4x higher |
Also in this theme: mobile homes 7.7% in Fire Risk Factors, crowded housing 1.5% in CRR Outreach, and households without a vehicle 4.4% in EMS Risk Factors.
- 2.2% of residents live in group quarters (nursing homes, assisted living, dorms, corrections), vs 2.4% nationally
- 3.4% are under 5 and 11.1% are school-age (5 to 17), where childcare and schools concentrate
- 18.8% are 75 or older, where assisted-living and nursing demand concentrates
Based on 5-year American Community Survey estimates of resident populations. A named target-hazard list (schools, hospitals, care facilities) requires local data beyond the census.
Fire Risk Factors
The Reported Incident Activity section above adds the call counts the department has published through NERIS. The finer questions come from your own incident records: which tracts the calls come from, how fast crews arrive, and what each run takes. Response Analytics measures those from your NERIS data.
What this means for planning: 19.8% of housing units are vacant, 2.0x the national average. Vacant properties carry elevated fire risk: no maintenance, unauthorized access, and nobody there to report a fire early. Work with code enforcement on vacant property inspections and securing abandoned structures.
Reading the 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. PeersYouPeersU.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population 75+ Adults 75 and older carry the highest fire-death rate of any age group and are least able to self-evacuate [USFA] |
18.8% | 6.4% | 7.0% | 2.9x higher |
| Population Under 5 Children under 5 have the highest fire-death rate among children and are usually too young to escape a fire without help [USFA] |
3.4% | 5.8% | 5.6% | 1.7x lower |
| Poverty Rate Lower-income and higher-deprivation tracts have significantly higher residential fire rates, tied to older housing, overcrowding, and fewer working smoke alarms [Peer-reviewed] |
9.2% | 10.6% | 12.5% | 1.2x lower |
| Disability Rate Physical disability is the second-leading human factor in U.S. residential fire fatalities; mobility-limited residents need targeted evacuation planning [USFA] |
14.3% | 13.4% | 13.3% | ≈ average |
| Pre-1980 Housing Older housing predates modern electrical and fire codes and is less likely to have hardwired smoke alarms [Census] |
38.8% | 27.0% | 49.8% | 1.4x higher |
| Vacancy Rate Intentional actions are the leading cause of vacant residential building fires (~34%); 53% spread to involve the entire structure [USFA] |
19.8% | 8.2% | 10.1% | 2.4x higher |
| Mobile Homes CDC/ATSDR SVI Theme 4 (Housing Type and Transportation) vulnerability variable; smaller footprint shortens egress time and limits compartmentation [CDC SVI] |
7.7% | 3.3% | 5.5% | 2.3x higher |
EMS Risk Factors
EMS calls make up the majority 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: 36.3% of residents are over 65. Older populations typically have higher EMS utilization rates. Consider community paramedicine programs for wellness checks and medication management support. Fall prevention education pays off in this population.
Reading the 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. PeersYouPeersU.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population 75+ Older adults are consistently the heaviest per-capita users of ambulance transport, driven by falls, cardiac events, and chronic-disease complications. |
18.8% | 6.4% | 7.0% | 2.9x higher |
| Disability Rate Residents with mobility, sensory, or cognitive disabilities are more likely to need EMS transport and often require additional on-scene assistance time. |
14.3% | 13.4% | 13.3% | ≈ average |
| No Vehicle Access Households without a vehicle face documented transportation barriers to medical care, including missed appointments and delayed visits [Peer-reviewed] |
4.4% | 4.7% | 8.4% | ≈ average |
| Uninsured Rate Uninsured adults are about three times more likely than continuously insured adults to have an unmet medical need due to cost (CDC NHIS) [CDC] |
10.5% | 9.2% | 8.4% | 1.1x higher |
| Poverty Rate Poverty is correlated with poorer health outcomes and reduced healthcare access; a recognized social determinant of health [HHS] |
9.2% | 10.6% | 12.5% | 1.2x lower |
| Below 150% Poverty Share below 150% of the federal poverty level; CDC PLACES uses this exact threshold to model chronic-disease prevalence [CDC] |
15.4% | 17.5% | 20.1% | 1.1x lower |
Natural Hazard Risk
What this means for planning: With a risk score of 97.3 (Very High nationally), hurricane is your leading natural hazard. Establish regional mutual aid agreements and evacuation support plans. Plan for debris clearance and prolonged deployment operations.
Top Hazards in Your Service Area
The top 5 hazards by life-safety impact, plus regionally critical hazards for FL (shown with unadjusted NRI scores). Life-safety loss uses FEMA’s Value of Statistical Life ($13.7M per fatality or 10 injuries); total loss adds FEMA’s building, population, and agriculture loss estimates. NRI methodology · Source: FEMA NRI v1.20 (Mar 2023)
| Hazard | Risk Score | Rating | Life-Safety Loss $/yr |
Total Loss $/yr |
Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane TOP LIFE-SAFETY HAZARD | 97.3 | Very High | $8.7M/yr | $133.3M/yr | NOAA NHC |
| Lightning | 91 | Very High | $3.4M/yr | $3.5M/yr | NWS lightning safety |
| Tornado | 53.5 | Relatively Moderate | $1.8M/yr | $5.1M/yr | NOAA SPC |
| Heat Wave | 36 | Relatively Low | $1.6M/yr | $1.6M/yr | NWS heat safety |
| Strong Wind | 47.4 | Relatively Moderate | $640K/yr | $1.0M/yr | NWS wind safety |
| Coastal Flood | 78.4 | Relatively High | $516K/yr | $4.8M/yr | FEMA coastal flood maps |
Reading the map: Colors show national risk levels (red = Very High nationally, green = Very Low nationally), so they compare directly with every U.S. community.
Historical Disaster Declarations
Your county has had 20 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years and 33 in the last 25 years.
The table lists the 5 most recent declarations from OpenFEMA. If the latest one looks old, OpenFEMA has no newer county-level declarations for your county.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-11 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| 2024-10-07 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| 2024-09-28 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-24 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-08-10 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
CRR Outreach Profile
These factors shape how you run Community Risk Reduction (CRR) outreach: prevention messages, communication channels, and inspection cadence. They do not necessarily mean higher fire or EMS risk.
Reading the map: The table below gives one department-wide rate per factor; the map shows which tracts drive it, so outreach (mailers, inspections, station open houses) can target where it will do the most good.
| Outreach Factor | Your Community | Peer Average | National Average | vs. PeersYouPeersU.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Heating Wood and other solid-fuel heating; outreach focus: annual chimney inspection and cleaning, hearth screens, three-foot clearance from anything that can burn [USFA] |
0.1% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 4.3x lower |
| Kerosene / Fuel Oil Heat Liquid-fueled and portable space heaters; outreach focus: three-foot clearance, turn off when leaving the room or going to bed, CO and ventilation awareness [USFA] |
0.1% | 0.8% | 3.8% | 11.9x lower |
| Bottled / Tank LP Heat Bottled, tank, or LP gas heating; outreach focus: tank leak checks, regulator and connector inspection, CO alarm placement [Census] |
0.6% | 2.5% | 4.8% | 4.5x lower |
| Renter-Occupied Share occupied by renters; outreach differs from owner messaging: landlord coordination on smoke alarms, tenant-focused checklists, multilingual notices [USFA] |
25.7% | 28.2% | 35.1% | ≈ average |
| Overcrowding More than one occupant per room (Census/HUD threshold); shapes outreach where multiple residents share sleeping space and egress paths [HUD] |
1.5% | 1.9% | 3.5% | 1.3x lower |
| No Internet Access Households without home internet may miss web-based emergency alerts, telehealth, and outreach; favor radio, mailers, and door-to-door channels [Census] |
4.4% | 4.4% | 6.5% | ≈ average |
Peer Comparison
Departments similar to yours in size, type, density class, and region. Peer benchmarks put your community risk profile in context and support “demonstrated need” narratives in grant applications.
| Department | State | PopulationiPopulation. Survey-era estimate (ACS 2020-2024), used here so every department in this table is measured the same way. The summary above carries it forward to 2025. | Risk ScoreiComposite Risk Score. FEMA NRI’s composite index combining all 18 hazards: Expected Annual Loss × Social Vulnerability ÷ Community Resilience, population-weighted across your tracts. Individual hazards may score higher than the composite; the composite reflects total expected impact across all hazards. This is the same score behind the “NRI Risk Rating” band shown at the top of the page. FEMA methodology. | 65+ % | Multi-Unit % | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarasota County Fire Department (You) | FL | 320,794 | 78.9 | 36.3% | 18.3% | 45 |
| Indian River Shores Public Safety - Fire Services | FL | 360,500 | 81.1 | 24.6% | 10.5% | 2 |
| St. Lucie County Fire Distrtict | FL | 361,092 | 81.2 | 24.6% | 10.6% | 20 |
| Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services | GA | 244,884 | 44.2 | 16.1% | 7.9% | 51 |
| Chesterfield Fire and EMS | VA | 396,916 | 33.3 | 16.2% | 8.8% | 26 |
Get an email when this profile updates
We email you when new Census or FEMA data reaches this profile, plus occasional Arborlook news (product launches, pilot invitations, and accreditation deadlines). Expect a few emails a year, each with a one-click unsubscribe. We store your email with this department so update notices reach the people who asked for them.
This free community risk profile is part of the Discovery Data Hub, a partnership between Vision 20/20 and Arborlook Insights to keep risk data in the hands of the fire service.
From risk profile to finished CRA/SOC
This profile covers steps 1 and 2 of the Vision 20/20 process with public data. The paid plans add your own NERIS incident records and carry the work through to a written assessment.
Write your CRA and Standards of Cover on this data
- Rank each risk on the Vision 20/20 matrix, with suggestions drawn from your NERIS calls and the FEMA hazards on this page
- Draft each section’s narrative in the dashboard, next to the figures it describes, and pin field notes to any figure
- Build an editable Word package on demand, with response performance charts by risk category, station breakdowns, and maps
Measure response against this risk
- Response times mapped tract by tract, against NFPA 1750-aligned goals you set
- Priority tracts where high risk meets slow response
- A weekly brief every Monday and a monthly board packet
The trial opens with a NERIS data quality assessment, and that view stays free after the trial ends.