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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Smyrna Fire Department

CAREER TN 14 Stations
65,935
Population
39.0
Sq Miles
1,690
Density / Sq Mi
15
Census Tracts
Relatively 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 90.3 (Very 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
    90.3 Risk Score Very High
  • Winter Weather
    88 Risk Score Very High
  • Earthquake
    80 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Tornado
    73 Risk Score Relatively High
  • River Flood
    69.7 Risk Score Relatively High

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 12 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 21 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2026-02-06Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2026-01-24Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2025-04-02Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
2023-04-07Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
2021-05-08TornadoSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, 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
6.7% (4,440)
Ages 5-17
19.0% (12,539)
Ages 18-64
63.0% (41,544)
Ages 65-74
7.1% (4,666)
Ages 75-84
3.2% (2,115)
Ages 85+
1.0% (631)
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
11.5% 13.6% 13.4% slightly lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
13.2% 12.1% 12.4% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
13.9% 8.1% 8.2% 1.7x higher
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
7.4% 2.6% 4.2% 2.9x higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
3.4% 5.2% 8.5% 1.5x lower
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
4.4% 5.2% 6.6% slightly lower

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$82,837
Peers: $86,834 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$36,948
Peers: $44,085 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$334,048
Peers: $352,905 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: Focus fire prevention efforts on cooking safety (leading cause of home fires), heating equipment safety, electrical hazards, and smoke alarm installation programs. Target education toward renters and multi-family buildings where fire incidence is typically higher.

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
24.5% 24.0% 36.0% ≈ average
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
0.2% 0.3% 5.7% 1.9x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
4.0% 7.4% 10.3% 1.9x lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
2.8% 3.2% 5.8% ≈ average
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
40.1% 36.6% 34.4% ≈ average

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: 13.2%, uninsured: 13.9%) 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
11.2% 16.9% 17.4% 1.5x lower
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
11.5% 13.6% 13.4% slightly lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
3.4% 5.2% 8.5% 1.5x lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
13.9% 8.1% 8.2% 1.7x higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
13.2% 12.1% 12.4% ≈ average

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.

1
Hospitals
20
Schools (K-12)
25
Childcare Centers
5
Nursing Homes
51
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
Smyrna Fire Department (You) TN 65,935 63 11.2% 13.2% 14
Southaven Fire Department MS 72,733 66.4 13.8% 13.7% 4
Franklin Fire Department TN 67,891 61.3 15.1% 5.6% 8
Biloxi Fire Department MS 69,225 71 16.4% 17.2% 10
Okolona Fire Department KY 67,778 61.2 13.1% 16.3% 3

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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