Safeguard Properties

Fannie Mae: Reminder of Assistance Options for Borrowers Affected by Hurricane Laura and California Wildfires

Posted on by Safeguard

Investor Update
August 26, 2020

Source: Fannie Mae

Additional Resource:

Safeguard Properties Disaster Alert Center:
Hurricane Laura Reporting
California Wildfire Reporting

WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) is reminding those impacted by Hurricane Laura and the California Wildfires of available mortgage assistance and disaster relief options. Under Fannie Mae’s guidelines for single-family mortgages impacted by a natural disaster:

• Homeowners may request mortgage assistance by contacting their mortgage servicer following a disaster

• Mortgage servicers are authorized to suspend or reduce a homeowner’s mortgage payments for up to 90 days – even without establishing contact – if the servicer believes the homeowner was affected

• Homeowners affected by disaster are often eligible to reduce or suspend their mortgage payments for up to 12 months

•During this temporary payment break:

    • Homeowners will not incur late fees
    • Foreclosure and other legal proceedings are suspended

• There are a number of options available to potentially help homeowners catch up on missed payments

In addition, homeowners currently on a COVID-19-related forbearance plan who are subsequently impacted by the storm or fires should contact their mortgage servicer to discuss options.

Fannie Mae also offers help navigating the broader financial effects of a disaster to homeowners with a Fannie Mae-owned mortgage and renters living in Fannie Mae-financed properties through its Disaster Response Network*, including:

• A needs assessment and personalized recovery plan

• Help requesting financial relief from FEMA, insurance, and other sources

• Web resources and ongoing guidance from experienced disaster relief advisors

Homeowners and renters can call 877-833-1746 to access Fannie Mae’s Disaster Response Network™* or other available resources.

“We are monitoring these situations, and we urge those in the path of the storm and fires to focus on their safety first as they prepare for the potential impact of these events,” said Malloy Evans, Senior Vice President and Single-Family Chief Credit Officer, Fannie Mae. “Along with our lending and servicing partners, Fannie Mae is committed to ensuring assistance is available to homeowners and renters in need. We encourage residents whose homes, employment, or income are impacted by this storm and fires to seek available assistance as soon as possible.”

*Operated by Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions, a division of MMI, through its Project Porchlight program

Freddie Mac: FHLMC Guide Bulletin 2020-33: Servicing and Selling Updates

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Updated 11/2/20: Freddie Mac updated the effective date for the deployment of the new Unified Counterparty Experience System® from November 8, 2020 to December 7, 2020.

FHLMC Guide Bulletin 2020-42

Investor Update
August 19, 2020

Source: Freddie Mac

Review today’s Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide (Guide) Bulletin 2020-33 to learn more about selling and servicing updates related to the following:• The new Unified Counterparty Experience System® (UCountSM), system, which replaces the current process for Seller/Servicer annual certification and change and activity reporting. The forms now used for that reporting,16SF and 1107SF, will be retired on November 8, 2020, with the launch on UCount.

• eMortgages

    • Third-party eNote custody and delivery
    • Endorsements
    • Modification of eMortgages
    • eMortgage payoffs

The Bulletin also includes other updates that may be important to your business.

FHFA: Foreclosure Prevention Report – May 2020

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Investor Update
August 18, 2020

Source: FHFA

May 2020 Highlights — Foreclosure Prevention

The Enterprises’ Foreclosure Prevention Actions:

• The Enterprises completed 83,756 foreclosure prevention actions in May, bringing the total to 4,534,370 since the start of the conservatorships in September 2008. Over half of these actions have been permanent loan modifications.

• There were 4,577 permanent loan modifications in May, bringing the total to 2,415,960 since the conservatorships began in September 2008.

• Nineteen percent of modifications in May were modifications with principal forbearance. Modifications with extend-term only accounted for 66 percent of all loan modifications during the month.

• Initiated forbearance plans dropped significantly from 989,594 in April to 392,338 in May. The total number of loans in forbearance plans at the end of May was 1,450,557, representing approximately 5.1% of the total loans serviced.

• There were 286 short sales and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure completed in May, down 12 percent compared with April 2020.

The Enterprises’ Mortgage Performance:

• The 30-59 days delinquency rate dropped to 2.53 percent, while the serious delinquency rate increased from 0.68 percent at the end of April to 0.86 percent at the end of May.

The Enterprises’ Foreclosures:

• Third-party and foreclosure sales dropped 24 percent from 344 in April to 260 in May due to the suspension of foreclosures.

• Foreclosure starts also dropped from 3,229 in April to 2,316 in May due to the suspension of foreclosures.

May 2020 Highlights — Refinance Activities

• Total refinance volume increased in May to levels last observed in 2013 as mortgage rates fell in previous months. Mortgage rates decreased further in May: the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 3.23 percent from 3.31 percent in April.

• In May, 14 refinances were completed through the High LTV Refinance Option, bringing total refinances through the High LTV Refinance Option from the inception of the program to 46.

• The percentage of cash-out refinances decreased to 28 percent in May from 30 percent in April. Mortgage rates have continued to fall from the highs observed in 2018, creating more opportunities for non cash-out borrowers to refinance at lower rates and lower their monthly payments.

Attachments: Foreclosure Prevention, Refi, and FPM – May 2020

HUD: California Wildfire Disaster Assistance Announced

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Investor Update
August 25, 2020 

Source: HUD

Foreclosure protection offered to displaced families

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced it will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of California and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes in areas affected by the wildfires.

On August 22nd, President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties.

The President’s declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in these counties. HUD is:

• Providing immediate foreclosure relief – HUD’s automatic 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages commenced for the California counties covered under the Presidential declaration on the date of the declaration. For assistance, call your loan servicer or FHA’s Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320;

• Making mortgage insurance available – HUD’s Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims whose homes were destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction or replacement is necessary and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs;

• Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation – HUD’s Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; and

• Making information on housing providers and HUD programs available – The Department will share information with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

Read about these and other HUD programs designed to assist disaster victims.

FEMA Declared Disaster California

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert Update
November 12, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires that took place August 14 to September 26, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Individual/Public Assistance

  • Mendocino
  • Stanislaus

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 10)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
October 18, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires that took place August 14 to September 26, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Individual/Public Assistance

  • Trinity

Public Assistance

  • Sierra
  • Tuolumne

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 8)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
October 15, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires that took place August 14 to September 26, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Individual/Public Assistance

  • Lassen
  • Tulare

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 7)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
September 30, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires beginning on August 14, 2020 and continuing.

The action closes the incident period on September 26, 2020

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 6)

 

FEMA Alert Update
September 28, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires beginning on August 14, 2020 and continuing.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Individual Assistance

  • Santa Clara

Public Assistance

  • Nevada
  • Santa Clara

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 5)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
September 13, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires beginning on August 14, 2020 and continuing.

The following county is eligible for assistance:

Individual Assistance

  • Butte

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 4)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
September 10, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires beginning on August 14, 2020 and continuing.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Public Assistance

  • Butte
  • Plumas
  • Yuba

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 3)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
August 24, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires beginning on August 14, 2020 and continuing.

The following county is eligible for assistance:

Individual/Public Assistance

  • Monterey

California Wildfires (DR-4558 Amendment 1)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert
August 22, 2020

FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in California affected by wildfires beginning on August 14, 2020 and continuing.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Individual/Public Assistance

  • Lake
  • Napa
  • San Mateo
  • Santa Cruz
  • Solano
  • Sonoma
  • Yolo

California Wildfires (DR-4558)

FEMA Declared Disaster California: ZIP Code List


Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

Tropical Storm Marco Makes Landfall, Weakens

Posted on by Safeguard

Updated 9/1/20: FEMA issued an update to an Emergency Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing. The action closes the incident period on August 29, 2020.

Mississippi Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura (Amendment 1)

Updated 8/25/20: The Weather Channel issued a report detailing Tropical Storm Marco, which has weakened into a post-tropical storm system and is expected to completely dissipate over the next 24 hours.

Marco Weakens and May Still Bring Heavy Rain to Parts of Gulf Coast Into Tuesday

Updated 8/24/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Texas affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing.

Texas Tropical Storms Marco and Laura
FEMA Emergency Declaration Texas: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/24/20: The Weather Channel published a report detailing the Tropical Storm Marco, which could bring storm surge and heavy rain to several U.S. Gulf Coast States.

Tropical Storm Marco Nears the Gulf Coast With Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds and Storm Surge Flooding

Additional Resource:

The Weather Channel (Marco and Laura: Track the Storms)

Safeguard Disaster Alert Center (Tropical Storm Laura Reporting)

Updated 8/23/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing.

Mississippi Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura
FEMA Emergency Declaration Mississippi: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/23/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura beginning on August 22, 2020 and continuing.

Louisiana Tropical Storms Marco and Laura
FEMA Emergency Declaration Louisiana: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/23/20: Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

Governor Greg Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration in the Wake of Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura
Associated County ZIP Code List (23 Counties)

Updated 8/22/20: Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

GOVERNOR REEVES ISSUES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR TROPICAL STORM SYSTEMS
Associated County ZIP Code List (Statewide)

Updated 8/21/20: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

Gov. Edwards Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Dual Tropical Systems Threatening Louisiana
Associated Parish ZIP Code List (Statewide)

 

Disaster Alert
August 20, 2020

Source: The Weather Channel

Additional Resource:

The Weather Channel (Tropical Depressions Thirteen and Fourteen: Track the Storms)

Tropical Storm Laura Reporting (Formerly Tropical Depression 13)

NOTE: This has not yet been declared a FEMA Disaster.

At a Glance

  • Tropical Depression Fourteen is moving through the western Caribbean.
  • It will bring heavy rain and gusty winds to Central America and Mexico Friday into the weekend.
  • This system is expected to emerge in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday.
  • It is increasingly likely this system could affect parts of the northern or western U.S. Gulf Coast.
Tropical Depression Fourteen is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm later today and will impact parts of Central America and Mexico before reaching the western Gulf of Mexico, where it faces an uncertain future, but could affect parts of the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts next week.

The center of this system is just off the northeastern coast of Honduras. It’s located well to the west of Tropical Storm Laura, which is a separate system tracking through the Atlantic.

Tropical Depression Fourteen is generating widespread showers and thunderstorms along with gusty winds in the western Caribbean Sea, occasionally wrapping into the Cayman Islands, Honduras and Nicaragua.

A turn toward the northwest and a decrease in forward speed is anticipated by Friday afternoon. It will track near the coasts of northern Nicaragua and northeastern Honduras Friday.

Strengthening is likely and it is expected to become a tropical storm later today. The next two Atlantic tropical storm names are Laura and Marco.

A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning for portions of the eastern Yucatan Peninsula from Punta Herrero northward to Cancun, Mexico.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for parts of northern Honduras and northeast Nicaragua. Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread into these areas Friday morning.

For full report, please click the source link above.

Remnants of Hurricane Laura Spawn Arkansas Tornadoes

Posted on by Safeguard

Updated 12/9/20: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Texas affected by Hurricane Laura from August 23-27, 2020.

Texas Hurricane Laura (DR-4572)

Updated 9/12/20: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura from August 22-27, 2020.

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559 Amendment 8)

Updated 9/9/20: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura from August 22-27, 2020.

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559 Amendment 6)

Updated 9/4/20: The VA issued a release that expresses concern about VA home loan borrowers affected by Hurricane Laura, and describes measures mortgagees may employ to provide relief.

Circular 26-20-34: Special Relief Following Hurricane Laura

Updated 9/1/20: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura from August 22-27, 2020.

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559 Amendment 3)

Updated 9/1/20: FEMA issued an update to an Emergency Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing. The action closes the incident period on August 29, 2020.

Mississippi Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura (Amendment 1)

Updated 8/31/20: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura from August 22-27, 2020.

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559 Amendment 2)

Updated 8/30/20: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura from August 22-27, 2020.

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559 Amendment 1)

Updated 8/28/20: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura from August 22-27, 2020.

Louisiana Hurricane Laura (DR-4559)

Updated 8/28/20: FOX News published a report detailing tornadic activity spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Laura that impacted portions of Arkansas.

Arkansas church damaged in tornado spun off from Hurricane Laura

Additional Resource:

The Weather Channel (Tropical Depression Laura Moving Through the Mid-South With Gusty Winds, Flooding After Category 4 Landfall)

Approximate locations sustaining possible structural damage:

Arkansas
– Egypt (Craighead County, 72427)
– Forrest City (Craighead County, 72335, 72336)
*Tornado (reported)
– Goobertown (Craighead County, 72417)
*Wind damage
– Jonesboro (Craighead County, 72401, 72402, 72403, 72404, 72405)
*Tornado (reported)
-Lake City (Craighead County, 72437)
*Tornado (reported)
– Little Rock (Pulaski County, 72201, 72202, 72203, 72204, 72205, 72206, 72207, 72209, 72210, 72211, 72212, 72214, 72215, 72216, 72217, 72219, 72221, 72222, 72223, 72225, 72227, 72231, 72255, 72260, 72295)
*Wind damage
– Paragould (Greene County, 72450, 72451)
– Possum Grape (Jackson County, 72020)
*Wind damage
– Redfield (Jefferson County, 72132)
*Wind damage
– Sedgwick (Lawrence County, 72465)
*Wind damage
– Walcott (Greene County, 72474)
*Tornado (reported)

Updated 8/27/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Arkansas affected by Hurricane Laura beginning on August 26, 2020 and continuing.

Arkansas Hurricane Laura (EM-3541)
FEMA Emergency Declaration Arkansas: ZIP Code List 

Updated 8/27/20: The Weather Channel issued a report offering the latest updates on Hurricane Laura, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm while continuing to move inland.

Tropical Storm Laura Moves Inland Across Louisiana With Damaging Winds, Flooding and Tornadoes After Category 4 Landfall

Approximate locations possibly sustaining structural damage:

Louisiana
– Cameron (Cameron Parish, 70631)
*Flooding
– Carlyss (Calcasieu Parish, 70665)
*Wind damage
– DeRidder (Beauregard Parish, 70634)
*Wind damage
– DeQuincy (Calcasieu Parish, 70633)
*Wind damage
– Gillis (Calcasieu Parish, 70611)
*Wind damage
– Hackberry (Cameron Parish, 70645)
*Wind damage
– Hayes (Calcasieu Parish, 70646)
*Wind damage
– Holly Beach/Grand Chenier (Cameron Parish, 70643)
*Flodding, wind damage
– Iowa (Calcasieu Parish, 70647)
*Wind damage
– Lafayette (Lafayette Parish, 70501, 70502, 70503, 70504, 70505, 70506, 70507, 70508, 70509, 70593, 70596, 70598)
*Flooding, wind damage
– Lake Charles (Calcasieu Parish, 70601, 70602, 70605, 70606, 70607, 70609, 70611, 70612, 70615, 70616, 70629)
*Flooding, Wind damage
– Leesville (Vernon Parish, 71446, 71459, 71469)
*Wind damage
– Moss Bluff (Calcasieu Parish, 70611)
*Wind damage
– Prien (Calcasieu Parish, 70605)
*Wind damage
– Robeline (Natchitoches Parish71469)
*Wind damage
– Shreveport (Caddo Parish, 71101, 71102, 71103, 71104, 71105, 71106, 71107, 71108, 71109, 71115, 71118, 71119, 71120, 71129, 71130, 71133, 71134, 71135, 71136, 71137, 71138, 71148, 71149, 71150, 71151, 71152, 71153, 71154, 71156, 71161, 71162, 71163, 71164, 71165, 71166)
– Starks (Calcasieu Parish, 70661)
*Wind damage
– Sulphur (Calcasieu Parish, 70663, 70664, 70665)
*Wind damage
– Vinton (Calcasieu Parish, 70668)
*Wind damage
– Westlake (Calcasieu Parish, 70669)
*Wind damage

Mississippi
– Natchez (Adams County, 39120, 39121, 39122)
*Wind damage

Texas
– Crystal Beach/Port Bolivar (Galveston County, 77650)
*Flooding
– Galveston (77550, 77551, 77552, 77553, 77554, 77555)
*Flooding, wind damage
– Orange (Orange County, 77630, 77631, 77632)
– Port Arthur (Jefferson County, 77640, 77641, 77642, 77643)
– Sabine Pass (Jefferson County, 77655)
*Flooding

Updated 8/27/20: The Weather Channel issued a report offering the latest updates on Hurricane Laura, which made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 storm.

Hurricane Laura Moving Inland Across Louisiana With Damaging Winds, Flooding Rain and Tornadoes

Approximate locations sustaining structural damage:

Louisiana
Lake Charles (Calcasieu Parish, 70601, 70602, 70605, 70606, 70607, 70609, 70611, 70612, 70615, 70616, 70629)

Updated 8/26/20: The Weather Channel issued a report offering the latest forecast information for Hurricane Laura, which is expected to make landfall along the Texas and Louisiana coast within the next several hours.

Hurricane Laura Strengthens Into a Category 4; Catastrophic Strike Ahead Near Louisiana and Texas Border

Updated 8/26/20: Freddie Mac issued a release reminding mortgage servicers of its disaster relief policies for homeowners as Hurricane Laura makes landfall and amid wildfires threatening parts of California.

Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies As Hurricane Laura Approaches; Amid California Wildfires

Updated 8/26/20: Fannie Mae issued a release reminding those impacted by Hurricane Laura and the California Wildfires of available mortgage assistance and disaster relief options.

Fannie Mae Reminds Residents and Mortgage Servicers of Assistance Options for Borrowers Affected by Hurricane Laura and the California Wildfires

Updated 8/26/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Texas affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing.

Texas Tropical Storms Marco and Laura (Amendment 3)
FEMA Emergency Declaration Texas: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/26/20: The Weather Channel issued a report offering the latest forecast information for Hurricane Laura, which is expected to make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Laura Rapidly Intensifies Into a Category 3; Destructive Landfall Ahead Near Louisiana and Texas Border

Additional Resources:

Louisiana Coastal County ZIP Code List

Texas Coastal County ZIP Code List

Updated 8/25/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Texas affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing.

Texas Tropical Storms Marco and Laura (Amendment 2)
FEMA Emergency Declaration Texas: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/25/20: The Weather Channel issued a report offering the latest forecast information for Hurricane Laura, which is expected to impact the U.S. Gulf Coast over the next several days as a major storm.

Hurricane Laura Intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico, Forecast to Strike Upper Texas, Louisiana Coasts as Category 3

Updated 8/24/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Texas affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing.

Texas Tropical Storms Marco and Laura
FEMA Emergency Declaration Texas: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/24/20: The Weather Channel issued a report providing the latest forecast information for Tropical Storm Laura, which could strike the U.S. Gulf Coast as a major hurricane within the next several days.

Tropical Storm Laura Poses an Increasing Major Hurricane Danger For the Texas and Louisiana Coast

Additional Resource:

The Weather Channel (Marco and Laura: Track the Storms)

Safeguard Disaster Alert Center (Tropical Storm Marco Reporting)

Updated 8/23/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura beginning on August 23, 2020 and continuing.

Mississippi Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura
FEMA Emergency Declaration Mississippi: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/23/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Tropical Storms Marco and Laura beginning on August 22, 2020 and continuing.

Louisiana Tropical Storms Marco and Laura
FEMA Emergency Declaration Louisiana: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/23/20: Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

Governor Greg Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration in the Wake of Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura
Associated County ZIP Code List (23 Counties)

Updated 8/22/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Puerto Rico affected by Tropical Storm Laura beginning on August 21, 2020 and continuing.

Puerto Rico Tropical Storm Laura
FEMA Emergency Declaration Puerto Rico: ZIP Code List

Updated 8/22/20: Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

GOVERNOR REEVES ISSUES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR TROPICAL STORM SYSTEMS
Associated County ZIP Code List (Statewide)

Updated 8/21/20: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura.

Gov. Edwards Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Dual Tropical Systems Threatening Louisiana
Associated Parish ZIP Code List (Statewide)

Updated 8/21/20: The Weather Channel issued a report providing the latest forecast information for Tropical Storm Laura (formerly Tropical Depression 13) , which is expected to impact Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Laura Forms and May Threaten Florida, Gulf Coast Next Week; Watches Issued for Puerto Rico

Additional Resource:

The Weather Channel (Tropical Depressions Thirteen and Fourteen: Track the Storms)

Tropical Depression 14 Reporting

 

Disaster Alert
August 20, 2020

Source: The Weather Channel

NOTE: This has not yet been declared a FEMA Disaster.

At a Glance

  • Tropical Depression Thirteen is centered several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands.
  • It could track near the Leeward Islands as a tropical storm with rain and gusty winds later Friday into Saturday.
  • This system might approach the Bahamas, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico early next week.
  • The intensity and track forecast for this system is highly uncertain when it approaches the U.S.
  • It’s too early to determine what, if any, impacts the U.S. mainland may see.

Tropical Depression Thirteen is tracking through the Atlantic and could affect the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico with rain and gusty winds by this weekend. This system might approach Florida and the Gulf of Mexico by early next week. However, its forecast intensity and track at that time are highly uncertain.

Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico Forecast

Tropical Depression Thirteen is likely to move rather quickly to the west-northwest over the next few days on the southern periphery of a high-pressure system to its north.

Rainfall and gusty winds from this system could reach parts of the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico by later Friday into Saturday. Tropical storm conditions are possible in these areas, but that will depend on how much this system intensifies.

Tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of the northern Leeward Islands.

For full report, please click the source link above.

FEMA Declared Disaster Iowa

Posted on by Safeguard

FEMA Alert Update
October 5, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Iowa affected by severe storms that took place on August 10, 2020.

The following county is eligible for assistance:

Individual Assistance

  • Clinton

Iowa Severe Storms (DR-4557 Amendment 4)

FEMA Declared Disaster Iowa: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
September 10, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Iowa affected by severe storms that took place on August 10, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Public Assistance

  • Greene
  • Grundy
  • Guthrie
  • Hardin
  • Iowa
  • Jackson
  • Washington

Iowa Severe Storms (DR-4557 Amendment 3)

FEMA Declared Disaster Iowa: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
September 1, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Iowa affected by severe storms that took place on August 10, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Individual Assistance

  • Benton
  • Boone
  • Cedar
  • Jasper
  • Marshall
  • Polk
  • Poweshiek
  • Scott
  • Story
  • Tama

Iowa Severe Storms (DR-4557 Amendment 2)

FEMA Declared Disaster Iowa: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert Update
August 20, 2020

FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Iowa affected by severe storms that took place on August 10, 2020.

The following county is eligible for assistance:

Individual Assistance

  • Linn

Iowa Severe Storms (DR-4557 Amendment 1)

FEMA Declared Disaster Iowa: ZIP Code List

 

FEMA Alert
August 17, 2020

FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Iowa affected by severe storms that took place on August 10, 2020.

The following counties are eligible for assistance:

Public Assistance

  • Benton
  • Boone
  • Cedar
  • Clinton
  • Dallas
  • Jasper
  • Johnson
  • Jones
  • Linn
  • Marshall
  • Muscataine
  • Polk
  • Poweshiek
  • Scott
  • Story
  • Tama

Iowa Severe Storms (DR-4557)

FEMA Declared Disaster Iowa: ZIP Code List


Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

Tropical Storm Josephine Forms in the Atlantic Ocean

Posted on by Safeguard

Disaster Alert
August 13, 2020

Source: The Weather Channel

NOTE: This has not yet been declared a FEMA Disaster.

At a Glance

  • Tropical Storm Josephine has formed in the Atlantic.
  • Josephine is forecast to track north of the Leeward Islands by this weekend.
  • This system should also encounter increasing wind shear by the weekend, resulting in gradual weakening.

Tropical Storm Josephine has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, but this storm might be short-lived since it will battle increasingly unfavorable conditions as it tracks north of the Leeward Islands this weekend.

Josephine is located more than 1,000 miles east of the Leeward Islands and is moving to the west-northwest.

Conditions in the near-term future could allow Josephine to gain some additional strength as it tracks over the open Atlantic waters.

This weekend, increasing wind shear should make conditions less favorable for intensification and the National Hurricane Center forecasts weakening to occur. There is the possibility this system could dissipate by that time as well.

For full report, please click the source link above.

Hurricane-Force Derecho Blows Across Midwest

Posted on by Safeguard

Updated 9/10/20: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi (Iowa) as a result of a derecho that took place on August 10, 2020.

Iowa Midwest Derecho (DR-4561)

Updated 8/17/20: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Iowa affected by severe storms that took place on August 10, 2020.

Iowa Severe Storms (DR-4557)

 

Disaster Alert
August 11, 2020

Source: The Weather Channel

Additional Resources
WGN 9 Chicago (7 Tornadoes Touched Down in Chicagoland Area During Monday’s ‘Derecho’ Storm, NWS Confirms)

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (Governor Reynolds issues disaster proclamation for 14 additional counties)

Associated County ZIP Code List

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

Illinois
– Forreston (Ogle County, 61030)
– Lombard (DuPage County, 60148, 60149)
– Marengo (McHenry County, 60152)
– New Lenox (Will County, 60451)
– Rockford (Winnebago County, 61101, 61102, 61103, 61104, 61105, 61106, 61107, 61108, 61109, 61110, 61112, 61114, 61115, 61125, 61126)
– Rogers Park/Chicago (Cook County, 60626, 60660)
– Spring Grove (McHenry County, 60081)
– Wheaton (DuPage County, 60187, 60189)
– Yorkville (Kendall County, 60560)

Indiana
– Lake Station (Lake County, 46405)

Iowa
– Ames (Story County, 50010, 50011, 50012, 50013, 50014)
– Cedar Rapids (Linn County, 52401, 52402, 52403, 52404, 52405, 52406, 52407, 52408, 52409, 52410, 52411, 52497, 52498, 52499)
– Davenport (Scott County, 52801, 52802, 52803, 52804, 52805, 52806, 52807, 52808, 52809)
– Luther (Boone County, 50152)
– Marshalltown (Marshall County, 50158)
– Newton (Jasper County, 50208)
– Perry (Dallas County, 50220)
– Slater (Story County, 50244)
– Urbandale (Dallas/Polk Counties, 50131, 50322, 50323, 50391, 50395, 50398)

Wisconsin
– Lancaster County (Grant County, 53813)

NOTE: This has not yet been declared a FEMA Disaster.

With gusts up to 112 mph, an intense derecho downed trees, smashed sheds, flattened crops and damaged homes and buildings across a long stretch of the Midwest on Monday.

Power was knocked out to more than 1 million homes and businesses, according to poweroutage.us. More than 475,000 of those were in Illinois and another 400,000-plus were in Iowa.

“It’s one of the worst storms we’ve seen in terms of total number of customers impacted,” MidAmerican Energy spokesperson Tina Hoffman told the Des Moines Register.

Hoffman said all of the utility’s crews are working on repairs and it has asked for help from crews outside the area.

“There is a lot of damage, and unfortunately this is not something that can be repaired very quickly,” Hoffman said. “This is going to be a multiday restoration effort. It’s going to be a while.”

In a span of 14 hours, the derecho moved from far southeastern South Dakota into Ohio – a distance of about 770 miles, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. A derecho is a widespread wind damage event caused by severe thunderstorms.

For full report, please click the source link above.