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 60 (Relatively 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 | 60 | Relatively High | $150K/yr | $226K/yr |
| Cold Wave | 51.6 | Relatively Moderate | $115K/yr | $116K/yr |
| Strong Wind | 84.7 | Very High | $104K/yr | $145K/yr |
| Heat Wave | 55 | Relatively Moderate | $96K/yr | $96K/yr |
| Lightning | 86 | Very High | $77K/yr | $81K/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 14 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 19 declarations in the last 25 years.
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | Winter Storm | SEVERE WINTER STORM |
| 2024-09-29 | Hurricane | HURRICANE HELENE |
| 2024-09-26 | Tropical Storm | HURRICANE HELENE |
| 2024-08-05 | Tropical Storm | HURRICANE DEBBY |
| 2023-08-31 | Hurricane | HURRICANE IDALIA |
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.
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 |
12.3% | 16.8% | 13.4% | slightly lower |
| Poverty Rate Economic barrier to safety resources |
13.5% | 11.8% | 12.5% | ≈ average |
| Uninsured Rate May delay medical care, leading to emergencies |
6.5% | 7.5% | 8.3% | ≈ average |
| Limited English Households Language barrier to emergency communication |
0.3% | 0.6% | 4.3% | 2.3x lower |
| No Vehicle Access Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence |
4.2% | 3.3% | 8.7% | slightly higher |
| No Internet Access Disconnected from digital emergency alerts |
5.9% | 10.8% | 6.7% | 1.8x lower |
Economic Context
Fire Risk Factors
What this means for planning: 12.2% 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 |
21.1% | 20.0% | 36.3% | ≈ average |
| Wood Heating Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat |
1.1% | 5.0% | 1.4% | 4.7x lower |
| Vacancy Rate Vacant properties at higher fire risk |
12.2% | 14.1% | 10.3% | ≈ average |
| Mobile Homes Structural fire spread risk |
24.9% | 21.0% | 5.8% | slightly higher |
| Renter-Occupied Higher turnover, variable maintenance |
9.2% | 16.0% | 34.7% | 1.7x lower |
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: 20.9% 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 |
20.9% | 20.8% | 17.4% | ≈ average |
| Disability Rate Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs |
12.3% | 16.8% | 13.4% | slightly lower |
| No Vehicle Access Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence |
4.2% | 3.3% | 8.7% | slightly higher |
| Uninsured Rate May delay care, leading to emergencies |
6.5% | 7.5% | 8.3% | ≈ average |
| Poverty Rate Economic barrier to healthcare access |
13.5% | 11.8% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merriwether Volunteer Fire Department (You) | SC | 10,969 | 45.7 | 20.9% | 13.5% | 4 |
| Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Company (Queen Anne's County Station 6) | MD | 11,058 | 47.2 | 18.5% | 10.0% | 1 |
| Belfast-Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department | VA | 11,189 | 46.2 | 24.2% | 12.7% | 1 |
| Leipsic Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. | DE | 11,801 | 50.9 | 21.6% | 14.2% | 1 |
| Capon Springs Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company | WV | 13,871 | 47.2 | 20.1% | 11.4% | 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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