Chapter ED Intelligence · Chapter Report
ARC of Northwest Florida
Southeast and Caribbean Division · North and Central Florida Region
FL · 7 counties · HQ Pensacola, FL · FEMA Region IV
1,059,658
People
418,021
Households
38.8%
Households below the ALICE survival threshold
7
Counties · 5,586 sq mi
Nearly 39% of households across this chapter live below the ALICE survival threshold — the working families one disaster away from crisis.
In this report · Economic vulnerability · Who lives here · Home fire mission (FLARE) · mission delivery & the bespoke relationship strategy to follow
Sources: American Red Cross geography + 2023 demographics reference table; United Way ALICE + poverty (latest county year).
Geography & Footprint
The chapter's footprint.
7
Counties
5,586
Square miles
1,059,658
People
North and Central Florida Region
Southeast and Caribbean Division
| County | People | Sq mi | % of chapter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escambia | 328,642 | 667 | 31.0% |
| Okaloosa | 219,663 | 940 | 20.7% |
| Santa Rosa | 199,785 | 1,025 | 18.9% |
| Bay | 182,599 | 779 | 17.2% |
| Walton | 83,751 | 1,070 | 7.9% |
| Washington | 25,585 | 616 | 2.4% |
| Holmes | 19,633 | 489 | 1.9% |
HQ: Pensacola, FL · FEMA Region IV. Counties sorted by population.
Who Lives Here
The people of this chapter.
41
Median age
$65,846
Median household income
17.9%
Age 65+
31.3%
Renter households
Age distribution
Race & ethnicity
Hispanic / Latino (any race): 8.0% of residents.
Source: American Red Cross 2023 demographics reference table. Chapter figures aggregate the 7 counties; median age and income are population-weighted.
Economic Vulnerability
Where the need is greatest.
| County | People | Median HH income | ALICE | Poverty | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes | 19,633 | $43,224 | 45.7% | 16.0% | 61.7% |
| Washington | 25,585 | $42,235 | 36.6% | 17.3% | 53.9% |
| Walton | 83,751 | $64,206 | 30.1% | 12.1% | 42.2% |
| Bay | 182,599 | $62,119 | 28.2% | 12.6% | 40.8% |
| Escambia | 328,642 | $56,339 | 27.7% | 12.2% | 39.9% |
| Santa Rosa | 199,785 | $82,807 | 26.7% | 7.6% | 34.3% |
| Okaloosa | 219,663 | $73,138 | 23.5% | 10.4% | 33.9% |
Combined = households in poverty plus ALICE households (above poverty, below the cost of basics), as a share of all county households. Source: United Way ALICE, latest county year.
Risk & Disaster History
What this chapter is up against.
$668.5M
Expected annual loss, all hazards
Escambia
Highest-risk county
66.7%
Avg social vulnerability (SVI)
11
FEMA declarations, 5 yr (top county)
| County | NRI risk | Exp. annual loss | SVI %ile | FEMA 5yr | FEMA all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escambia | Relatively High | $173.7M | 83.9% | 7 | 40 |
| Bay | Relatively Moderate | $157.9M | 74.1% | 11 | 49 |
| Okaloosa | Relatively Moderate | $134.5M | 52.7% | 7 | 41 |
| Santa Rosa | Relatively Moderate | $101.2M | 32.1% | 8 | 43 |
| Walton | Relatively Moderate | $68.4M | 62.9% | 7 | 42 |
| Washington | Relatively Low | $18.5M | 80.4% | 8 | 40 |
| Holmes | Relatively Low | $14.2M | 80.8% | 8 | 39 |
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index 2025 (risk rating, expected annual loss), CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022 (social-vulnerability percentile), FEMA disaster declarations — via the Red Cross national county database.
Disaster History
A chapter shaped by disaster.
60
Federal disaster declarations
28
Hurricanes
Hurricane
Most common type
2024
Most recent
By incident type
Most recent declarations
| FY | Disaster | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Hurricane |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm |
| 2024 | Hurricane Debby | Tropical Storm |
| 2024 | Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm |
| 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm |
| 2023 | Hurricane Idalia | Hurricane |
| 2023 | Tropical Storm Idalia | Tropical Storm |
| 2023 | Hurricane Nicole | Hurricane |
| 2022 | Hurricane Ian | Hurricane |
| 2022 | Tropical Storm Ian | Hurricane |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 — county-level, deduplicated to unique disasters.
Home Fire Mission · FLARE 2024
Every home fire is a Red Cross moment.
381
Home fires (2024)
57.2%
Red Cross care rate
113
Fires with no Red Cross notification
3.6
Fires per 10,000 residents
Red Cross cared for 57% of home fires — but 113 (30%) happened with no Red Cross notification: the prevention, smoke-alarm, and response opportunity, county by county.
Source: FLARE Fire Incidents 2024 (American Red Cross, public layer). “With care” = Red Cross provided assistance; “no notification” = the Red Cross was never alerted to the fire.
Home Fire · Respond & Prevent
Red Cross shows up — and prevents.
3,558
Home-fire calls answered (RC response)
3,250
Single-family fire responses
4,828
Free smoke alarms installed
292
Multi-family fire responses
Red Cross answered 3,558 home-fire calls and installed 4,828 free smoke alarms across the chapter — response and prevention, county by county.
Sources: DRO National 800-RedCross Calls by County (RC fire responses); Smoke Alarm Installs FY15–FY24 (American Red Cross).
Disaster Response · DAT
The local face of care.
65
Trained DAT volunteers
345
Historical DAT calls answered
6
Counties with DAT volunteers
65
Responders on the map
Every dot is a trained Disaster Action Team volunteer ready to respond to a home fire — shown by position only, never by name.
Source: Florida DAT — RC Care volunteers + historical calls (American Red Cross). Individual identities withheld; counts and positions only.
Blood & BioMed
The blood mission's local footprint.
3,678
Blood units collected (FY22–26)
204
Blood drives held
37
Drives in FY2026
5
Counties with drives
Blood drives are active in 5 of the chapter's 7 counties — every county without one is an employer or civic opening: a host site, a sponsored drive, a standing partnership.
Source: BioMed Collections FY22–FY26 (American Red Cross). Drives = collection events; units = products collected.
Red Cross Facilities
The chapter's physical footprint.
4
Red Cross facilities
0
Owned
4
Leased / licensed
0
BioMed sites
By type / function
BioMed facilities
No BioMed fixed sites in this chapter.
Sources: Red Cross real-estate portfolio (reintel.jbf.com) + BioMed facilities (biomed.jbf.com).
Locations, types and functions only — no cost, square footage, or lease terms are disclosed.
Red Cross Philanthropy · Major Donors
Who gives here.
Major-donor giving across the chapter — three fiscal years. Internal planning data.
$840,237
Total giving, 3-year
41
Major donors
$98,318
Current FY · ▼ 76% vs prior FY
$244,184
Top: Escambia
| County | Major donors | Total giving, 3-year |
|---|---|---|
| Escambia | 16 | $244,184 |
| Walton | 10 | $199,868 |
| Bay | 3 | $186,276 |
| Santa Rosa | 3 | $102,700 |
| Okaloosa | 8 | $101,908 |
| Washington | 1 | $5,300 |
Source: Red Cross major-donor giving by county, three fiscal years.
Internal / executive-director planning use — not donor-facing.
County Deep Dive
Escambia County
328,642
People
$56,339
Median HH income
39.9%
Combined ALICE + poverty
Relatively High
FEMA NRI risk
People & economy
Median age39.9
ALICE households36,362
Poverty households16,021
Risk & response
Expected annual loss$173.7M
Social vulnerability (SVI)83.9%
FEMA declarations (all time)40
Home fires, CY2024159
Fires, no RC notification43
Bridge assistance · DRO 220-25—
Major-donor giving · 3-yr$244,184
Escambia County · sources: Red Cross demographics 2023, United Way ALICE, FEMA NRI & declarations, FLARE CY2024.
County Deep Dive
Okaloosa County
219,663
People
$73,138
Median HH income
33.9%
Combined ALICE + poverty
Relatively Moderate
FEMA NRI risk
People & economy
Median age40.2
ALICE households20,324
Poverty households9,037
Risk & response
Expected annual loss$134.5M
Social vulnerability (SVI)52.7%
FEMA declarations (all time)41
Home fires, CY202455
Fires, no RC notification18
Bridge assistance · DRO 220-25—
Major-donor giving · 3-yr$101,908
Okaloosa County · sources: Red Cross demographics 2023, United Way ALICE, FEMA NRI & declarations, FLARE CY2024.
County Deep Dive
Santa Rosa County
199,785
People
$82,807
Median HH income
34.3%
Combined ALICE + poverty
Relatively Moderate
FEMA NRI risk
People & economy
Median age41.4
ALICE households19,485
Poverty households5,573
Risk & response
Expected annual loss$101.2M
Social vulnerability (SVI)32.1%
FEMA declarations (all time)43
Home fires, CY202441
Fires, no RC notification11
Bridge assistance · DRO 220-25—
Major-donor giving · 3-yr$102,700
Santa Rosa County · sources: Red Cross demographics 2023, United Way ALICE, FEMA NRI & declarations, FLARE CY2024.
County Deep Dive
Bay County
182,599
People
$62,119
Median HH income
40.8%
Combined ALICE + poverty
Relatively Moderate
FEMA NRI risk
People & economy
Median age41.8
ALICE households22,772
Poverty households10,178
Risk & response
Expected annual loss$157.9M
Social vulnerability (SVI)74.1%
FEMA declarations (all time)49
Home fires, CY202458
Fires, no RC notification16
Bridge assistance · DRO 220-25—
Major-donor giving · 3-yr$186,276
Bay County · sources: Red Cross demographics 2023, United Way ALICE, FEMA NRI & declarations, FLARE CY2024.
County Deep Dive
Walton County
83,751
People
$64,206
Median HH income
42.2%
Combined ALICE + poverty
Relatively Moderate
FEMA NRI risk
People & economy
Median age45.2
ALICE households10,664
Poverty households4,280
Risk & response
Expected annual loss$68.4M
Social vulnerability (SVI)62.9%
FEMA declarations (all time)42
Home fires, CY202438
Fires, no RC notification19
Bridge assistance · DRO 220-25—
Major-donor giving · 3-yr$199,868
Walton County · sources: Red Cross demographics 2023, United Way ALICE, FEMA NRI & declarations, FLARE CY2024.
County Deep Dive
Washington County
25,585
People
$42,235
Median HH income
53.9%
Combined ALICE + poverty
Relatively Low
FEMA NRI risk
People & economy
Median age42.9
ALICE households3,399
Poverty households1,607
Risk & response
Expected annual loss$18.5M
Social vulnerability (SVI)80.4%
FEMA declarations (all time)40
Home fires, CY202413
Fires, no RC notification1
Bridge assistance · DRO 220-25—
Major-donor giving · 3-yr$5,300
Washington County · sources: Red Cross demographics 2023, United Way ALICE, FEMA NRI & declarations, FLARE CY2024.
County Deep Dive
Holmes County
19,633
People
$43,224
Median HH income
61.7%
Combined ALICE + poverty
Relatively Low
FEMA NRI risk
People & economy
Median age43.2
ALICE households3,239
Poverty households1,135
Risk & response
Expected annual loss$14.2M
Social vulnerability (SVI)80.8%
FEMA declarations (all time)39
Home fires, CY202417
Fires, no RC notification5
Bridge assistance · DRO 220-25—
Major-donor giving · 3-yr—
Holmes County · sources: Red Cross demographics 2023, United Way ALICE, FEMA NRI & declarations, FLARE CY2024.
Your Live Tools
The chapter's Experience Builder apps & federal tools.
Red Cross Intelligence Briefing
Chapter risk, hardship, hazards & county drilldowns
experience.arcgis.com
Disaster Response Intelligence
Spatial disaster-response intelligence
Experience Builder app
Red Cross Real Estate
Facilities & market intelligence
experience.arcgis.com
Service Area Planning
Service-area geography & planning
Experience Builder app
Community Mobilization V
Local resource & mobilization map
experience.arcgis.com
Biomed
Blood & BioMed footprint
experience.arcgis.com
FEMA RAPT
Resilience analysis & planning
www.fema.gov
Census Community Resilience
People & resilience context
www.census.gov
Red Cross Experience Builder apps give the live, drill-down companion to this report; federal tools add official context.
Sources & Methodology
Every number, traceable.
Tools produce facts; humans own decisions. Each figure in this report traces to a named source and vintage.
| Metric | Source | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| geography + 2023 demographics | ALICE master / Red Cross reference table | 2023 |
| ALICE + poverty households | MASTER counties ALICE+demographics | 2023 |
| flare | flare_fire_incidents (public AGOL, CY24) | CY2024 |
| smoke_alarms | GIS_MAP_FY15_to_FY24 (AGOL item b09f21d9…) | FY15–24 |
| lives_saved | Lives_Saved_Map_30_Apr_2026 (AGOL item ff313330…) | 2026 |
| blood | Biomed Collections 22-26 by chapter/county | FY22–26 |
| risk + disaster history | FEMA NRI 2025 · CDC SVI 2022 · FEMA declarations (red-cross-data county master) | FEMA NRI 2025 · SVI 2022 |
| fema disaster history | FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 | 2026 |
| DAT volunteers + calls | Florida DAT — RC Care volunteers + historical calls (org AGOL; names withheld) | 2026 |
| facilities / real estate (no costs) | Red Cross facilities portfolio — reintel.jbf.com (locations, types & ownership only; no cost/lease terms) | FY25 |
| home-fire RC responses (SFF/MFF) | DRO National 800-RedCross Calls by County (org AGOL) | FY24–26 |
Geography: American Red Cross chapter↔county reference. The full machine-readable source ledger ships with the data bundle.
Appendix · County Data
Full county table.
| County | Pop | Households | Hardship | NRI risk | Exp. annual loss | Fires '24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escambia | 328,642 | 132,248 | 39.9% | Relatively High | $173.7M | 159 |
| Okaloosa | 219,663 | 87,726 | 33.9% | Relatively Moderate | $134.5M | 55 |
| Santa Rosa | 199,785 | 74,291 | 34.3% | Relatively Moderate | $101.2M | 41 |
| Bay | 182,599 | 73,552 | 40.8% | Relatively Moderate | $157.9M | 58 |
| Walton | 83,751 | 33,586 | 42.2% | Relatively Moderate | $68.4M | 38 |
| Washington | 25,585 | 9,276 | 53.9% | Relatively Low | $18.5M | 13 |
| Holmes | 19,633 | 7,342 | 61.7% | Relatively Low | $14.2M | 17 |
One row per county. Combined hardship = poverty + ALICE households. Fires = FLARE CY2024.