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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Rockingham Fire Department

COMBINATION NC 3 Stations
13,294
Population
14.6
Sq Miles
908
Density / Sq Mi
4
Census Tracts
Relatively Moderate
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 85.6 (Very High nationally), ice storm is your leading natural hazard. Prepare for extended power outages, downed trees and power lines, and cold weather sheltering. Establish warming center partnerships and coordinate with utilities on restoration priorities.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Ice Storm
    85.6 Risk Score Very High
  • Strong Wind
    85.4 Risk Score Very High
  • Tornado
    83.5 Risk Score Very High
  • Hurricane
    81.9 Risk Score Very High
  • Wildfire
    74.9 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 14 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
2026-01-24Winter StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
2024-09-26Tropical StormHURRICANE HELENE
2024-08-06Tropical StormTROPICAL STORM DEBBY
2022-10-01HurricaneHURRICANE IAN
2020-08-02HurricaneHURRICANE ISAIAS

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
6.8% (908)
Ages 5-17
20.1% (2,670)
Ages 18-64
56.7% (7,532)
Ages 65-74
8.3% (1,107)
Ages 75-84
5.9% (788)
Ages 85+
2.2% (289)
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
17.2% 17.0% 13.4% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
29.3% 17.8% 12.4% 1.6x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
12.1% 10.7% 8.2% ≈ average
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
1.0% 2.0% 4.2% 2.0x lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
11.0% 6.7% 8.5% 1.6x higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
8.9% 9.9% 6.6% ≈ average

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$44,150
Peers: $60,026 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$27,522
Peers: $33,350 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$142,992
Peers: $220,395 · 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
63.3% 41.0% 36.0% 1.5x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
0.3% 3.5% 5.7% 10.8x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
11.9% 10.4% 10.3% ≈ average
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
8.8% 11.1% 5.8% slightly lower
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
37.8% 34.8% 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: 29.3%, uninsured: 12.1%) 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
16.4% 19.7% 17.4% slightly lower
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
17.2% 17.0% 13.4% ≈ average
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
11.0% 6.7% 8.5% 1.6x higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
12.1% 10.7% 8.2% ≈ average
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
29.3% 17.8% 12.4% 1.6x higher

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
5
Schools (K-12)
9
Childcare Centers
2
Nursing Homes
17
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
Rockingham Fire Department (You) NC 13,294 52.1 16.4% 29.3% 3
City Of Reidsville Fire Department NC 15,276 45.7 24.3% 19.7% 6
Eden Fire Department NC 10,364 70 18.5% 17.4% 8
Putnam County Fire Rescue GA 14,746 58 22.1% 23.3% 6
Cayce Fire Department SC 10,703 41 20.9% 12.6% 1

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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