Action Plan # 1: Request an ISO survey and improve the ISO rating for the areas afforded fire hydrant protection presently rated an ISO PPC 4 within 1-year to an ISO PPC 3: Improving the ISO PPC for these areas would reduce both the homeowners and the commercial property owners annual insurance premium. The actual savings would be based on how much improvement was attained. Approximate savings are demonstrated within the executive summary of this report.
1. Implement the suggested improvements that require very little capital expenditures such as:
a. Memorandum of Understanding for the use of a reserve ladder truck – add 1.40 points.
b. Memorandum of Understanding for the use of a reserve engine company – add 0.94 points.
c. Complete the preplanning program for all commercial businesses – add 1.84 points.
d. Utilize a neighboring training facility and perform 8,drills of at least 3-hour duration, per year at the training facility or suitable offsite location for each member (both paid and volunteer) within the Hutto Fire Department - add 4.11 points. This grading item may be prorated; therefore any level of additional training field evolutions by the Hutto Fire Department will improve the ISO grading point total which develops the ISO PPC.
e. Provide a photocopy of the school fire exit drill reports to ISO – add 0.92 points.
If suggestions a thru e were implemented 9.21 points will be added to the grading point total of 66.44. This would place the City of Hutto comfortably above the threshold of 73.00 grading points required to guarantee an ISO PPC 3.
2. Request a survey from ISO. Once a Field Representative is assigned to the City of Hutto the city should initiate a request for a pre-survey packet. This packet is extremely time consuming and tedious to complete. I know as I designed this packet in 1997 for all Field Representatives throughout the United States. My assistance would save City Officials a considerable amount of time in filling out this packet. In addition the ISO Field
Representative will have the extensive amount of required support data properly formatted to maximize the City of Hutto’s ISO rating.
3. Set a mutually convenient time for the City of Hutto and the ISO Field Representative to complete the ISO rate survey for the City of Hutto. The information transfer would proceed effortlessly if I assisted the City of Hutto throughout the survey process. This will save your City Officials, Fire Chief, and Support Staff a great deal of time and allow them to continue their normal daily activities. My assistance assures the ISO Field Representative will have the exact information he requires.
Action Plan # 2: Improve (lower) the ISO PPC for all areas afforded fire hydrant protection within the City of Hutto to an ISO PPC 2 within 3 years: This would further reduce the cost of commercial property and homeowner’s insurance. The actual savings would be based on how much improvement was attained. Approximate savings are demonstrated within the executive summary of this report.
1. Complete the suggested improvements that are economically feasible within the budget constraints of the City of Hutto. These would include: Erecting fire stations, providing additional apparatus, and improved staffing levels for existing apparatus.
2. Request a survey from ISO. Once a Field Representative is assigned to the City of Hutto the city should initiate a request for a pre-survey packet. This packet is extremely time consuming and tedious to complete. I know as I designed this packet in 1997 for all Field Representatives throughout the United States. My assistance would save City Officials a considerable amount of time in filling out this packet. In addition the ISO Field Representative will have the extensive amount of required support data properly formatted to maximize the City of Hutto’s ISO rating.
3. Set a mutually convenient time for the City of Hutto and the ISO Field Representative to complete the ISO rating survey for the City of Hutto. The information transfer would proceed effortlessly if I assisted the City of Hutto throughout the survey process. This will save your City Officials, Fire Chief, and Support Staff a great deal of time and allow them to continue their normal daily activities. My assistance assures the ISO Field Representative will have the exact information he requires.
Conclusion
Implement Action Plan #1 and establish an improved ISO PPC 3 for the areas afforded fire hydrant protection within the City of Hutto.
When the new ISO rating of 3 becomes effective accomplish as many improvements as possible that will have a significant impact on the emergency response and the ISO rating for the City of Hutto (Action Plan #2). When these suggestions are implemented, request a future ISO survey to further improve the ISO rating for all areas afforded fire hydrant protection within the City of Hutto to an ISO PPC 2
Without the excellent cooperation given me by Fire Chief Scott Kerwood and his staff the accuracy of this report and its timely completion would be severely compromised.
I appreciate the opportunity afforded me by the City of Hutto and I very much look forward to assisting the City of Hutto in the future.
.
Sincerely,
W. Michael Pietsch, P.E. Civil Engineer
Grading Summary Sheet
CITY OF HUTTO
Classification 4 – 66.44
I. Receiving & Handling Fire Alarms: Total 8.05, Maximum = 10
a. Item 414 - 1.80 2
b. Item 422 - 3.00 3
c. Item 432 - 3.25 5
II. Fire Department Total 25.28, Maximum = 50 a. Item 513 - 6.67 10 b. Item 523 - 0.33 1 c. Item 532 - 4.29 5 d. Item 549 - 0.27 5 e. Item 553 - 0.02 1 f. Item 561 - 0.96 4 g. Item 571 - 6.45 15 h. Item 581 - 3.96 + 2.33 (CTT) 9 III. Water Supply Total 34.86, Maximum = 40
a. Item 616 - 30.33 35
b. Item 621 - 2.00 2
c. Item 631 - 2.53 3
IV. Divergence* -7.33
V. Addendum Total 5.58 Maximum = 6.50
City of Hutto’s Total: