Arborlook
Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Western Cass Fire Protection District

VOLUNTEER MO 4 Stations
4,815
Population
27.9
Sq Miles
173
Density / Sq Mi
1
Census Tracts
Very 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 96.1 (Very High nationally), strong wind is your leading natural hazard. Focus on downed power line protocols, structural damage assessment, and coordination with utilities. Prepare for debris clearance and compromised roadway access.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Strong Wind
    96.1 Risk Score Very High
  • Tornado
    96.1 Risk Score Very High
  • Hail
    95.6 Risk Score Very High
  • Cold Wave
    92.1 Risk Score Very High
  • Heat Wave
    91.6 Risk Score Very 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 2 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 14 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2020-03-26BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19
2011-03-23Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
2011-02-03Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2010-08-17Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES

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
4.2% (200)
Ages 5-17
18.0% (865)
Ages 18-64
59.9% (2,885)
Ages 65-74
10.6% (510)
Ages 75-84
5.1% (246)
Ages 85+
2.3% (109)
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
14.4% 12.1% 13.4% slightly higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
4.9% 5.5% 12.4% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
10.5% 5.8% 8.2% 1.8x higher
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
3.2% 0.3% 4.2% 12.8x higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
1.4% 2.7% 8.5% 1.8x lower
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
9.7% 6.6% 6.6% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$97,734
Peers: $94,158 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$46,298
Peers: $43,871 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$345,600
Peers: $286,060 · 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
40.7% 29.7% 36.0% slightly higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
2.6% 4.8% 5.7% 1.9x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
6.0% 4.5% 10.3% slightly higher
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
4.1% 4.6% 5.8% ≈ average
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
10.0% 16.5% 34.4% 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: Economic barriers to healthcare access (poverty: 4.9%, uninsured: 10.5%) 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
18.0% 17.7% 17.4% ≈ average
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
14.4% 12.1% 13.4% slightly higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
1.4% 2.7% 8.5% 1.8x lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
10.5% 5.8% 8.2% 1.8x higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
4.9% 5.5% 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.

0
Hospitals
0
Schools (K-12)
1
Childcare Centers
0
Nursing Homes
1
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
Western Cass Fire Protection District (You) MO 4,815 83.9 18.0% 4.9% 4
Cosby-Helena Fire Protection District MO 6,501 84.9 17.6% 6.1% 2
Firth Rural Fire District NE 5,617 84.4 15.3% 4.5% 2
Old Monroe Fire Protection District MO 3,795 80.7 15.3% 8.0% 2
Saline County Rural Fire District #2 KS 6,678 81.1 15.6% 3.9% 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.

See the Response Dashboard

Already a subscriber? Log in →