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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Ensign Township Fire Department

VOLUNTEER MI 1 Stations
7,954
Population
988.1
Sq Miles
8
Density / Sq Mi
2
Census Tracts
Relatively Moderate
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 78.3 (Relatively High nationally), cold wave is your leading natural hazard. Focus on cold-exposure emergency response, warming center partnerships, and proactive wellness checks for vulnerable populations during extreme cold events.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Cold Wave
    78.3 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Heat Wave
    75 Risk Score Relatively High
  • River Flood
    67 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Strong Wind
    62.4 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Tornado
    57.6 Risk Score Relatively Moderate

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 10 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 17 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2024-02-08FloodSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
2021-07-15Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES
2020-03-27BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19
2014-09-25FloodSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING

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
10.6% (843)
Ages 5-17
23.9% (1,904)
Ages 18-64
56.8% (4,515)
Ages 65-74
6.5% (518)
Ages 75-84
2.1% (170)
Ages 85+
0.1% (4)
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
16.1% 18.0% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
32.5% 15.7% 12.4% 2.1x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
5.7% 6.5% 8.2% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
0.0% 0.7% 4.2% 20.9x lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
13.9% 7.1% 8.5% 1.9x higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
15.6% 10.3% 6.6% 1.5x higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$44,781
Peers: $60,845 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$22,074
Peers: $31,960 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$74,158
Peers: $127,684 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 13.3% 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
95.9% 63.3% 36.0% 1.5x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
0.0% 6.2% 5.7% Infx lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
13.3% 13.2% 10.3% ≈ average
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
0.0% 4.6% 5.8% Infx lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
49.4% 23.5% 34.4% 2.1x 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: Economic barriers to healthcare access (poverty: 32.5%, uninsured: 5.7%) can lead to delayed treatment and preventable emergencies. Partner with federally qualified health centers and social services to connect vulnerable residents with primary care resources.

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
8.7% 19.7% 17.4% 2.3x lower
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
16.1% 18.0% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
13.9% 7.1% 8.5% 1.9x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
5.7% 6.5% 8.2% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
32.5% 15.7% 12.4% 2.1x higher

Critical Infrastructure Protected

Hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and childcare centers require pre-incident plans and specialized evacuation protocols. These counts go directly into AFG/SAFER grant narratives and CPSE/CFAI Standards of Cover documentation.

0
Hospitals
3
Schools (K-12)
4
Childcare Centers
2
Nursing Homes
9
Total Facilities

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
Ensign Township Fire Department (You) MI 7,954 43.9 8.7% 32.5% 1
Fowler Center Township Fire Department IN 5,472 44.7 17.7% 16.7% 1
Madison Township Fire Department OH 9,426 36.1 13.1% 25.0% 1
Abingdon Fire Department IL 10,365 45.7 22.7% 12.9% 4
Pana Fire Department IL 5,079 49.8 22.3% 12.9% 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.

See the Response Dashboard

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