Released on = June 23, 2006, 8:04 am

Press Release Author = City of Orange Beach

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = The City of Orange Beach has received a grade three rating
from the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) audit from the
Insurance Services Office (ISO).

Press Release Body =
The City of Orange Beach has received a grade three rating from the Building Code
Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) audit from the Insurance Services Office
(ISO), based on an April, 2006, survey.

\"We now have one of the highest ratings in the state and are well above the national
average,\" Landon K. Smith, CBO, CFM, City of Orange Beach Building Official.

ISO is an independent statistical, rating and advisory organization that serves the
property/casualty insurance industry. ISO collects information on a community¹s
adoption and enforcement services, analyzes the data and then assigns a Building
Code Effectiveness Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary
commitment to building-code enforcement. The Orange Beach rating improved from a 7
to a three in the recent ISO analysis.

According to the ISO report, \"Municipalities with well-enforced, up-to-date codes
demonstrate better loss experience, and their citizens¹ insurance rates can reflect
that.
Not all communities have rigorous building codes, nor do all communities enforce
their codes with equal commitment. Yet the effectiveness of local building codes can
have a profound effect on how the structures in your community will fare in a
hurricane, earthquake or other natural disaster.\"

The City of Orange Beach adopted the International Building Code following Hurricane
Ivan in 2004 and has strict code enforcement measures in place.
ISO rates every function of the Building Dept., including natural preparedness.

\"There is no doubt that building code enforcement will result in less damage from
tropical storms and hurricanes,\" Orange Beach Mayor Pete Blalock said. \"This
higher BCEGS rating can also mean lower insurance rates in the city. We are proud
of our Building Department and the hard work that goes into making our community as
safe and as strong as possible.\"

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Web Site = http://www.cityoforangebeach.com

Contact Details = Ken Grimes
4099 Orange Beach Blvd.
Orange Beach , 36561
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2519816979
kgrimes@cityoforangebeach.com
http://www.cityoforangebeach.com