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Risk & Response by Arborlook Insights

Garrett Area Rural Volunteer Fire Department

VOLUNTEER TX 2 Stations
4,394
Population
30.9
Sq Miles
142
Density / Sq Mi
1
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 92 (Very High nationally), wildfire is your leading natural hazard. Prioritize structure protection, evacuation route planning, and coordination with forestry agencies. Focus on defensible space enforcement, pre-positioning during red flag warnings, and community evacuation drills.

Top 5 Hazards in Your Service Area

  • Wildfire
    92 Risk Score Very High
  • Hail
    90.8 Risk Score Very High
  • Drought
    87.1 Risk Score Very High
  • Cold Wave
    80.3 Risk Score Very High
  • Lightning
    76.8 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 7 FEMA disaster declarations in the last 10 years, and 18 declarations in the last 25 years.

DateTypeTitle
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
2020-03-25BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC

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
4.0% (175)
Ages 5-17
26.0% (1,143)
Ages 18-64
60.7% (2,668)
Ages 65-74
7.3% (321)
Ages 75-84
1.0% (45)
Ages 85+
1.0% (42)
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
8.1% 17.3% 13.4% 2.1x lower
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to safety resources
1.2% 6.9% 12.4% 5.9x lower
Uninsured Rate
May delay medical care, leading to emergencies
25.8% 10.3% 8.2% 2.5x higher
Limited English Households
Language barrier to emergency communication
3.9% 1.6% 4.2% 2.5x higher
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for evacuation
4.0% 3.5% 8.5% slightly higher
No Internet Access
Disconnected from digital emergency alerts
8.6% 7.1% 6.6% slightly higher

Economic Context

Median Household Income
$109,612
Peers: $85,036 · National: $89,949
Per Capita Income
$37,643
Peers: $39,888 · National: $44,638
Median Home Value
$351,900
Peers: $274,536 · National: $402,984

Fire Risk Factors

What this means for planning: 19.5% 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
19.1% 11.3% 36.0% 1.7x higher
High-Risk Heating
Wood, fuel oil, coal
0.9% 3.2% 5.7% 3.7x lower
Vacancy Rate
Vacant properties at higher fire risk
1.3% 9.0% 10.3% 6.8x lower
Mobile Homes
Structural fire spread risk
19.5% 17.8% 5.8% ≈ average
Renter-Occupied
Higher turnover, variable maintenance
8.1% 20.4% 34.4% 2.5x 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: 1.2%, uninsured: 25.8%) 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
9.3% 15.9% 17.4% 1.7x lower
Disability Rate
Higher EMS utilization, specialized assistance needs
8.1% 17.3% 13.4% 2.1x lower
No Vehicle Access
Transport-dependent for medical access
4.0% 3.5% 8.5% slightly higher
Uninsured Rate
May delay care, leading to emergencies
25.8% 10.3% 8.2% 2.5x higher
Poverty Rate
Economic barrier to healthcare access
1.2% 6.9% 12.4% 5.9x lower

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)
0
Childcare Centers
0
Nursing Homes
0
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
Garrett Area Rural Volunteer Fire Department (You) TX 4,394 43.7 9.3% 1.2% 2
White Bluff - Rye Hill Volunteer Fire Department AR 3,875 43.3 19.6% 2.5% 3
Oak Grove Fire District #25 AR 4,180 36.4 12.8% 4.4% 2
Sardis Fire Protection District 16 AR 4,886 37 13.4% 11.2% 1
Crystal Fire Protection District #24 AR 3,350 58.9 11.2% 1.8% 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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