City plays host to ISO class
Multiple agencies listen and ask questions as an ISO officer explains factors that impact an ISO rating, an indicator of a fire department’s abilities and resources for ensuring fire safety as well as a basis for determining the homeowners insurance rate charged to community members.
By Alison James
alison.james@fct.wpengine.com
In the past, ISO ratings have been a confusing thing for water and fire departments as well as the communities they serve. But ISO is setting out to change that, and surrounding agencies were given the chance to gain a better understanding of ISO with a local class held last Tuesday.
Since 1971, ISO has been a leading source of information about property/casualty insurance risk. Ratings given to communities by ISO have expressed how well a fire department, in conjunction the water department and emergency communications, is prepared to protect its community.
Held at the A.W. Todd Center, ISO National Director of Community Hazard Mitigation Tom Weber said the class, and others like it, is presented to local fire departments and other agencies “to help them better understand our schedule and our grading process.”
“The key to what we’re doing is to help them prepare for the next time we come in and do a grading,” Weber said. “In the past, ISO would just call up and say ‘We’re coming,’ and show up. We don’t do that anymore. Now we want the communities to be safer, and we want them to understand exactly what we’re looking for. If they understand what we’re looking for, and they are preparing for us, they’re bettering their communities by making them safer.”
Chief Joe Mansell said ISO wanted to bring the class to areas throughout the state to provide information and guidance.
“It used to be scary when you would hear ISO was coming because they would stay for days going through every record,” Mansell said. “They are actually here to try to help us … They want to make sure we actually understand it before they come in.”
Weber described ISO’s new way of doing things as proactive rather than reactive. For example, points are awarded for “community risk reduction,” which addresses preventative and education measures a department might undertake.
“If they’re doing a better job and getting a better grade from us, the community is safer. That’s the key,” Weber said.
Mansell took the opportunity to praise the Russellville water department for its part in keeping Russellville’s ISO low – the lower the rating, the better. Russellville is currently at a four; it was recently graded, and Mansell said they hope to see that number decrease when the newest grade is released. ISO ratings also impact insurance rates for commercial as well as residential properties.
Agencies attended the Russellville class from all over the surrounding area – Cherokee, Hamilton, Florence, Sheffield.
Mayor David Grissom commended Mansell on his part in bringing the class to Russellville and for his efforts to reduce the local ISO rating.
“It makes sure our people are taken care of,” Grissom said. “Chief Mansell and the fire department continue to do a great job taking care of our people.”
Mansell likewise thanked the mayor and council for supporting his department’s efforts.
