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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Amsterdam Fire Department

CAREER NY 1 Stations
18,166
Population
6.3
Sq Miles
2,904
Density / Sq Mi
8
Census Tracts
Relatively Low
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 77.7 (Relatively High nationally), landslide is your leading natural hazard. Work with emergency management to map high-risk slopes, establish technical rescue protocols, and coordinate with public works on monitoring and response during heavy rain events.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Landslide
    77.7 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Winter Weather
    65.1 Risk Score Relatively High
  • Cold Wave
    54.2 Risk Score Relatively Moderate
  • Hurricane
    54.2 Risk Score Relatively Moderate
  • Lightning
    52.8 Risk Score Relatively Moderate

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 5 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 20 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2021-08-22HurricaneHURRICANE HENRI
2020-03-20BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
2020-03-13BiologicalCOVID-19
2019-12-19Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
2017-07-12SnowstormSEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM

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
5.7% (1,029)
Ages 5-17
17.3% (3,146)
Ages 18-64
57.5% (10,441)
Ages 65-74
11.8% (2,144)
Ages 75-84
5.8% (1,049)
Ages 85+
2.0% (357)
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
18.0% 19.7% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
20.2% 20.3% 12.4% ≈ average
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
5.0% 5.3% 8.2% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
4.0% 1.0% 4.2% 4.0x higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
14.5% 17.1% 8.5% slightly lower
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
9.3% 8.8% 6.6% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$62,375
Peers: $53,898 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$31,224
Peers: $31,302 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$136,443
Peers: $127,023 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 18.0% of housing units are vacant — 1.8x 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
91.0% 79.6% 36.0% ≈ average
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
7.8% 3.5% 5.7% 2.2x higher
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
18.0% 11.5% 10.3% 1.6x higher
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
0.1% 0.4% 5.8% 2.9x lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
47.0% 49.0% 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: 18.0% of residents have a disability — slightly higher the national average. Residents with disabilities have higher EMS utilization and may require specialized evacuation assistance, accessible communication during emergencies, and coordination with social services. Consider functional needs assessments in pre-incident planning and partnerships with disability advocacy organizations.

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
19.5% 18.3% 17.4% ≈ average
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
18.0% 19.7% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
14.5% 17.1% 8.5% slightly lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
5.0% 5.3% 8.2% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
20.2% 20.3% 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
4
Schools (K-12)
2
Childcare Centers
4
Nursing Homes
11
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
Amsterdam Fire Department (You) NY 18,166 24.4 19.5% 20.2% 1
Sharon Fire Department PA 12,936 22.3 18.3% 20.0% 2
Gloversville Fire Department NY 14,962 19.3 17.9% 17.6% 1
Watertown Fire Department NY 24,375 27 16.0% 20.1% 6
Johnson City Fire Department NY 14,940 30.5 22.4% 19.6% 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

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