The Michigan City Fire Department has recently received the improved Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of a Class 2 from a Class 3. This rating has been achieved by less than 1/4 of 1% of Fire Departments Nationwide and is one of only 17 in Indiana. The ISO currently evaluates over 50,000 Fire Departments Nationwide with only 1,597 earning the Class 2 Rating. The new Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating will become effective July 1st, and the improved Insurance Service Office rating will help some homeowners see a lowering of insurance rates, the department announced. Fire Departments across the Nation are rated by the ISO to determine a PPC for individual Cities or Counties. This rating is published by the ISO and used by Insurance Companies to determine insurance rates. With a Class 2 ISO rate, Michigan City property owners could realize a decrease in property insurance premiums. Less than 1% of all communities surveyed in the nation receives an ISO Class rating of 2. This rating entitles the residential and commercial property owners within the City of Michigan City to receive the maximum credit on their insurance premiums (Class 1 and Class 2 rating receives the same credit.).Property owners should contact their insurance providers to inquire if their premiums will be impacted by the new classification rating.