Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Wappingers Falls Fire Department

VOLUNTEER NY 2 Stations
4,207
Est. Population
1.1
Sq Miles
3,685
Density / Sq Mi
1
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 57.7 (Relatively Moderate 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

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
Cold Wave TOP LIFE-SAFETY HAZARD 57.7 Relatively Moderate $46K/yr $46K/yr
Heat Wave 47.8 Relatively Moderate $24K/yr $24K/yr
River Flood 69.6 Relatively High $23K/yr $573K/yr
Strong Wind 77 Relatively High $21K/yr $30K/yr
Lightning 78.2 Relatively High $18K/yr $19K/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
2023-07-22Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
2021-09-05HurricaneREMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA
2021-09-02HurricaneREMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA
2021-08-22HurricaneHURRICANE HENRI
2020-03-20BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC

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
2.2% (93)
Ages 5-17
14.3% (602)
Ages 18-64
57.9% (2,434)
Ages 65-74
14.3% (602)
Ages 75-84
6.2% (259)
Ages 85+
5.1% (215)
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
15.4% 12.7% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
3.8% 7.5% 12.5% 2.0x lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
7.4% 3.5% 8.3% 2.1x higher
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
2.6% 2.0% 4.3% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
6.3% 6.7% 8.7% ≈ average
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
7.9% 7.1% 6.7% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$65,040
Peers: $99,511 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$34,569
Peers: $51,514 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$337,200
Peers: $335,713 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 68.8% of housing units are renter-occupied. Rental properties often experience higher fire incidence due to transient occupancy and variable maintenance. Partner with landlords on smoke alarm compliance, tenant fire safety education, and rental property inspections.

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
73.4% 66.8% 36.3% ≈ average
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
0.0% 2.0% 1.4% Infx lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
3.7% 9.5% 10.3% 2.6x lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
0.0% 4.2% 5.8% Infx lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
68.8% 23.5% 34.7% 2.9x 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: 25.6% of residents are over 65. Older populations typically have higher EMS utilization rates. Consider community paramedicine programs for wellness checks, medication management support, and fall prevention education.

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
25.6% 21.7% 17.4% slightly higher
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
15.4% 12.7% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
6.3% 6.7% 8.7% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
7.4% 3.5% 8.3% 2.1x higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
3.8% 7.5% 12.5% 2.0x lower

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
Wappingers Falls Fire Department (You) NY 4,207 47.1 25.6% 3.8% 2
Elkins Park Fire Company PA 5,525 50.5 25.5% 6.7% 1
Morrisville Fire Department NY 4,144 49.2 14.2% 10.1% 1
Keyport Fire Department NJ 5,532 45.1 19.7% 9.5% 2
Manasquan Fire District #1 NJ 4,946 55.7 20.2% 3.1% 2

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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