Deep South Tornado Outbreak Damages Dozens of Homes

Updated 3/18/21: The Weather Channel published a report providing an update on severe storm activity that caused structural damage in portions of North Carolina.

Damage Reported in North Carolina As Possible Tornado Moves Through

Approximate locations (according to media outlets) sustaining structural damage:

North Carolina

Tornado/High Winds
– Burlington (Alamance/Guilford Counties, 27215, 27216, 27217)
– Cedar Grove (Orange County, 27231
– High Point (Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Forsyth Counties, 27260, 27261, 27262, 27263, 27264, 27265, 27268)

Updated 3/18/21: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper approved a state of emergency in advance of expected severe weather across the state.

Governor Cooper Issues State of Emergency in Advance of Severe Weather
Associated County ZIP Code List

 

Disaster Alert
March 18, 2021

Source: The Weather Channel

Additional Resources:

Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (State of Emergency: Severe Weather)
Associated County ZIP Code List (Statewide)

Clarion Ledger (See Mississippi Tornado Damage Caused by Storms Sweeping Through Wayne County, State)

WAFF 48 (Severe Storms Cause Flooding, Closed Roads in Parts of North Alabama)

WSFA NBC 12 (Homes Destroyed in Parts of Chilton Co.)

Approximate locations (according to media outlets) sustaining structural damage:

Alabama

Tornado/High Winds
– Autaugaville (Autauga County, 36003)
– Billingsley (Autauga County, 36006)
– Bluffport (Sumter County, 35470)
– Brookside (Jefferson County, 35036)
– Burnsville (Dallas County, 36749)
– Clanton (Chilton County, 35045, 35046)
– Cooper (Chilton County, 35453)
– Cottondale (Tuscaloosa County, 35453)
– Gardendale (Jefferson County, 35071)
– Moundville (Hale County, 35474)
– Mount Olive (Jefferson County, 35117)
– Oak Grove (Talladega County, 35150, 35151)
– Oneonta (Blount County, 35121)
– Silas (Choctaw County, 36919)
-South Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County, 35404)
– Thomasville (Clarke County, 36784)
– Thorsby (Chiltin County, 35171)
– Verbena (Chilton County, 36091)
Flooding
– Sheffield (Cobert County, 35660)
*Home flooding reported on Norris Circle, Oakwood Boulevard and York Street
Tuscumbia (Colbert County, 35674)
*Home flooding reported on Avalon Avenue

Arkansas

Flooding
– Jonesboro (Craighead County, 72401, 72402, 72403, 72404, 72405)
– Paragould (Greene County, 72450, 72451)

Mississippi

Tornado/High Winds
– Brookhaven (Lincoln County, 39601, 39602, 39603)
– Whistler (Wayne County, 39367)
– Waynesboro (Wayne County, 39367)
– Woolworth (Lincoln County, 39665)

Missouri

Tornado/High Winds
– Elsey (Stone County, 65656)
– Galena (Stone County, 65624, 65656)
– Wheelerville (Barry County, 65633)

At a Glance

  • Damage has been reported in many parts of Alabama and in Mississippi.
  • Those in the potential path of severe weather should monitor conditions closely.

The threat of severe storms continues Thursday across the Deep South where dozens of houses have been damaged or destroyed by possible tornadoes and thousands are still without power.

In South Carolina, many government offices closed for the day and schools dismissed students early or moved to online instruction only.

Shortly before 9 a.m., a multivehicle crash involving several semitractor trailers shut down all but one lane in each direction of Interstate 40 east of Knoxville, Tennessee, according to the state Transportation Department. Traffic was backed up for miles in both directions. Rain was falling at the time of the accident. WOKI reported all lanes were reopened about two hours later.

Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service office in central Alabama said teams were heading out to assess damage in at least 12 counties where tornadoes may have touched down, according to the Associated Press.

Downed trees and power lines were reported in Houston County shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday CDT after radar confirmed a tornado near Dothan, Alabama. WTVY reported that a driver was trapped by fallen trees for a short time in the Highlands neighborhood south of U.S. 84.

At least three homes were destroyed in Alabama’s Chilton County, which saw two possible tornadoes Wednesday night.

“About a minute before it got here, we jumped in the hall closet, a little, small closet. And just we heard it. You know, the sound from the house coming down. We were saved. We thank the Lord for that,” Jimmy Baker told WSFA after his home in Chilton’s Fairview community was ripped away.

Another possible tornado caused damage east of Clanton in Chilton County, according to the National Weather Service.

For full report, please click the source link above.

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

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Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

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CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

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Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties