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Hurricane Lane: Monster Storm Strengthens to Category 5, Hawaii County Under Hurricane Warning

Updated 9/27/18: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Hawaii affected by Hurricane Lane from August 22-29, 2018.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 8/23/18: Fannie Mae issued a press release titled Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Affected by Hurricane Lane.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 8/23/18: Freddie Mac issued a press release titled As Hurricane Lane Approaches Hawaiian Islands, Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies.

Link to All Client Alert 

Updated 8/22/18: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Hawaii due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Lane beginning August 22, 2018 and continuing.

Link to declaration

Link to county ZIP Code list

NOTE: According to a 2016 census estimate, Kalawao County was the least-populated county in the United States and occupies the least area of any county. Due to this fact, it does not have the functions of other Hawaii counties and is a judicial district of Maui County. For this purpose, it has been added to the linked ZIP Code list. (Source: Wikipedia) 

This has not yet been declared a Presidential Major Disaster Area.


All Client Alert
August 22, 2018

Source: CBS News

Additional Resources:

Office of Hawaii Governor David Ige (Governor Ige Signs Emergency Proclamation in Anticipation of Hurricane Lane)

Emergency Proclamation County ZIP Code List

Safeguard Properties Disaster Update Center

NOTE: This is independent from any FEMA Declared Disaster.

HONOLULU — Hurricane Lane strengthened to a Category 5 storm late Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph as it moved closer to Hawaii, the National Hurricane Center said. Hawaii County, also known as the Big Island, is under a hurricane warning, meaning hurricane conditions are expected in the next 36 hours.

Oahu and Maui County, which includes the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, are under a hurricane watch. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.

As of 1 a.m. ET, Lane was located about 375 miles south of Kailua-Kona, on the west coast of Big Island, and about 535 miles south of Honolulu. On the forecast track, the storm is expected to move very close to or over the main Hawaiian Islands from Thursday through Saturday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

Hawaii residents could be slammed with heavy rain, flash flooding and high surf even if the center doesn’t reach the islands, said senior Honolulu forecaster Tom Birchard.

Officials have urged residents to prepare “for the worst,” CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV reported.

“Some people might say, ‘Another hurricane, it didn’t hit us last time, we don’t need to worry.’ No, we got to plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said on Monday.

Officials are also taking steps to prevent problems, including closing beach parks and clearing streams, KGMB-TV reported.

As Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii, actions are being taken to prepare for its impact.

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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