Today the Insurance Services Offices (commonly known as “ISO”) is expected to release a preliminary report of Atlanta’s fire fighting capabilities that ranks Atlanta in the top 15% of all Georgia cities and counties.
The ISO is an advisory organization that compiles information for the insurance industry. Among other things, the ISO evaluates municipal and county fire-protection efforts throughout the United States. Through a 10 point scale known as the Public Protection Classification program (“PPC”), the ISO provides information to the insurance industry that may be used in setting premiums.
Over the past four months, the ISO conducted an in-depth PPC evaluation of Atlanta’s water system, emergency communication system, and firefighting polices, procedures, staffing, training and capabilities. The review was requested by the State’s Insurance Commissioner in January.
The draft report will show that Atlanta’s preliminary score is a “4” on the PPC’s 10 point scale. ISO procedures allow the City 90 days to develop an improvement plan and then six months to implement the plan. The ISO then re-evaluates the City at the end of the six month implementation period, which can then translate to a higher score.
The ISO last evaluated Atlanta in the early 1970’s, at which time the City earned a rating of “2” on the PPC scale.
The existing rating will stay in effect for up to nine months while the City develops and puts in place its implementation plan.
Said Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran: “While we are disappointed in the slight drop in rating, we are proud to be one of the highest ranked cities in Georgia. We have welcomed this exhaustive review of our firefighting capabilities and will use the evaluation as a blueprint for improvements. We intend to use the next nine months to make changes recommended by the ISO, and we are confident we can regain our previous rating.”
According to ISO officials, the preliminary rating has no effect whatsoever during the implementation period, and by regaining its previous rating in nine months there will be no long term changes for homeowners and businesses.
Atlanta’s current rating of “2” places it in the top 2% of the 1,144 Georgia cities and counties measured by the ISO; a score of “3” would place Atlanta in the top 7%; and a score of “4” would place Atlanta in the top 15%.
For informational purposes, the ratings of selected comparison cities and counties in Georgia is as follows:
| Fulton County |
3 |
| DeKalb County |
3 |
| Gwinnett County |
4 |
For more information, please visit Insurance Services Offices or Insurance Services Offices Surveys
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For more information about this and services of the City of Atlanta visit our website at www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26