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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Highway 321 Volunteer Fire Department

VOLUNTEER TX 1 Stations
20,884
Est. Population
229.8
Sq Miles
91
Density / Sq Mi
4
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 94.7 (Very 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 94.7 Very High $1.5M/yr $1.8M/yr
Cold Wave 77.5 Relatively High $534K/yr $539K/yr
Lightning 98.3 Very High $380K/yr $382K/yr
Heat Wave 75.5 Relatively High $305K/yr $305K/yr
Hurricane 86.5 Very High $116K/yr $1.1M/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 11 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 24 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2024-07-09HurricaneHURRICANE BERYL
2024-05-17FloodSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
2021-02-19Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS
2021-02-14Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2020-08-24HurricaneTROPICAL STORMS MARCO AND LAURA

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
4.6% (954)
Ages 5-17
18.7% (3,902)
Ages 18-64
66.3% (13,837)
Ages 65-74
6.4% (1,344)
Ages 75-84
3.0% (633)
Ages 85+
1.0% (214)
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
17.9% 15.3% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
17.0% 13.6% 12.5% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
18.3% 15.5% 8.3% slightly higher
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
5.3% 2.8% 4.3% 1.9x higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
5.9% 3.7% 8.7% 1.6x higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
7.8% 8.9% 6.7% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$75,633
Peers: $73,447 · National: $89,476
Per Capita Income
$28,200
Peers: $33,673 · National: $44,519
Median Home Value
$243,999
Peers: $227,479 · National: $402,761

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 22.4% of housing units are mobile homes. Manufactured housing presents unique fire risks including rapid fire spread, limited egress, and structural collapse potential. Focus on smoke alarm installation programs, escape planning education, and pre-fire planning for mobile home communities.

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
22.7% 15.3% 36.3% slightly higher
Wood Heating
Wood stoves and fireplaces as primary heat
0.7% 1.2% 1.4% 1.8x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
11.6% 13.7% 10.3% slightly lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
22.4% 23.2% 5.8% ≈ average
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
16.5% 21.7% 34.7% slightly 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: Economic barriers to healthcare access (poverty: 17.0%, uninsured: 18.3%) 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
10.5% 16.7% 17.4% 1.6x lower
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
17.9% 15.3% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Evacuation risk; higher EMS transport dependence
5.9% 3.7% 8.7% 1.6x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
18.3% 15.5% 8.3% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
17.0% 13.6% 12.5% slightly higher

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
Highway 321 Volunteer Fire Department (You) TX 20,884 63 10.5% 17.0% 1
Tarkington Volunteer Fire Department TX 15,673 65.4 15.7% 7.5% 1
Eustace Area Volunteer Fire Department TX 26,455 61.3 20.1% 13.5% 1
Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department TX 11,130 70.4 10.6% 13.9% 1
Crabbs Prairie Volunteer Fire Department TX 19,258 67.7 16.7% 15.0% 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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