Page 246 – Safeguard Properties

Hurricane Michael Collides with Florida Panhandle

Posted on December 10, 2018February 4, 2019 by Safeguard

Updated 2/1/19: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Virginia affected by Tropical Storm Michael from October 9-16, 2018.

Link to Industry Update

Updated 1/31/19: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Michael from October 10-12, 2018.

Link to Industry Alert

Updated 12/18/18: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Virginia affected by Tropical Storm Michael from October 9-16, 2018.

Link to Industry Alert

Updated 11/15/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Michael from October 7-19, 2018.

Link to Industry Alert

Updated 11/15/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Georgia affected by Hurricane Michael from October 9-23, 2018.

Link to Industry Alert

Updated 11/7/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Georgia affected by Hurricane Michael from October 9-23, 2018.

Link to Industry Alert

Updated 11/5/18: FEMA issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Alabama affected by Hurricane Michael from October 10-13, 2018.

Link to Industry Alert

Updated 11/1/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Georgia affected by Hurricane Michael from October 9-23, 2018.

Link to Industry Alert

Updated 10/25/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Georgia affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 9, 2018 and continuing.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/16/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Georgia affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 9, 2018 and continuing.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/16/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 7, 2018 and continuing.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/15/18: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued Circular 26-18-23: Special Relief Following Hurricane Michael.

Link to All Client Alert

NOTE: This has not yet been declared a Presidential Major Disaster.

Updated 10/13/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 7, 2018 and continuing.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/12/18: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Alabama due to the emergency conditions in the area affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 10, 2018 and continuing.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

MapAlert Disaster Viewer

Updated 10/12/18: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 7, 2018 and continuing.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/12/18: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a press release titled HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Florida Storm Victims.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/12/18: Approximate areas sustaining property damage:

Florida

Apalachicola (Franklin County, 32320, 32329)
Mexico Beach (Bay County, 32456)
Panama City (Bay County, 32401, 32402, 32404, 32405, 32406, 32412)
Tallhassee (Leon County, 32301, 32302, 32303, 32304, 32305, 32306, 32307, 32308, 32309, 32310, 32311, 32312, 32313, 32314, 32316, 32317, 32395, 32399)

Georgia

Oakland City (Fulton County, 47660)
Flint River Estates (Crawford County, 31078)

North Carolina

Reidsville (Rockingham County, 27320, 27323)
South Carolina
Irmo (Lexingon, Richland counties, 29063, 29212)

Virginia

Achilles (Gloucester County, 23001, 23072)
Burkeville (Nottoway County, 23922)
Danville (Pittsylvania County, 24540, 24541, 24543)
Farmville (Prince Edward, Cumberland counties, 23901, 23909)
Jamaica (Middlesex County, 23079)
Lanexa (New Kent County, 23089)
Richmond (Independent City, 23173, 23218, 23219, 23220, 23221, 23222, 23223, 23224, 23225, 23226, 23227, 23230, 23231, 23232, 23234, 23235, 23241, 23249, 23260, 23261, 23269, 23274, 23276, 23278, 23279, 23282, 23284, 23285, 23286, 23289, 23290, 23291, 23292, 23293, 23295, 23298
Roanoke (Independent City, 24001, 24002, 24003, 24004, 24005, 24006, 24007, 24008, 24009, 24010, 24011, 24012, 24013, 24014, 24015, 24016, 24017, 24018, 24019, 24022, 24023, 24024, 24025, 24026, 24027, 24028, 24029, 24030, 24031, 24032, 24033, 24034, 24035, 24036, 24037, 24038, 24040, 24042, 24043, 24050)

Updated 10/12/18: The Weather Channel issued a report titled Hurricane Michael Recap: Historic Category 4 Florida Panhandle Landfall; Swath of Wind Damage and Flooding Into the Carolinas, Mid-Atlantic.

Link to article

Updated 10/11/18: Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam issued a state of emergency in anticipation of Tropical Storm Michael.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

NOTE: This is independent from any FEMA Declared Disaster.

Updated 10/11/18: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 7, 2018 and continuing.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/11/18: CNN published a report titled After pummeling Florida and Georgia, deadly Michael heads to the Carolinas.

Link to article

Updated 10/10/18: Georgia Governor Nathan Deal expanded on his previous state of emergency declaration to include 16 additional counties.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

NOTE: This is independent from any FEMA Declared Disaster.

Updated 10/10/18: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Georgia due to the emergency conditions in the area affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 9, 2018 and continuing.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

Updated 10/10/18: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued a state of emergency in anticipation of the remnants of Hurricane Michael.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

NOTE: This is independent from any FEMA Declared Disaster.

Updated 10/10/18: South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster extended a state of emergency due to flooding from Hurricane Florence and potential impacts from the remnants of Hurricane Michael.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

NOTE: This is independent from any FEMA Declared Disaster.

Updated 10/10/18: Fannie Mae issued a press release titled Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Affected by Hurricane Michael.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/10/18: Freddie Mac issued a press release titled Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies as Hurricane Michael Approaches.

Link to All Client Alert

Updated 10/10/18: The Weather Channel issued a report titled Hurricane Michael Just Hours Away From a Catastrophic, Unprecedented Florida Panhandle, Big Bend Category 4 Landfall.

Link to article

Updated 10/9/18: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on October 7 and continuing.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

Updated 10/9/18: Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Michael.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

Updated 10/9/18: As Hurricane Michael is on course to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle, Safeguard has compiled an approximate county ZIP Code list associated with the area.

Link to ZIP Code list

Updated 10/8/18: Florida Governor Rick Scott amended his previous state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Michael.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

Updated 10/8/18: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a statewide state of emergency due to the expected impact from Hurricane Michael.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

All Client Alert
October 8, 2018

Source: The Weather Channel

Additional Resources:

Office of Florida Governor Rick Scott (Gov. Scott Declares State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Michael)

Link to associated ZIP Code list

NOAA National Coastal County ZIP Code list

Safeguard Properties Update Alert Center

Michael has strengthened into a hurricane and is forecast to strike the northeast Florida coastline as a Category 3 with dangerous storm surge flooding, destructive winds and flooding rainfall.

Michael is currently centered about 50 miles south of the western tip of Cuba and is moving north.
Outer rainbands from Michael are already soaking the Florida Keys, and rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are likely there through Tuesday.

Michael rapidly intensified from Sunday 11 a.m. EDT to Monday 11 a.m. EDT when its winds increased from 35 mph to 75 mph in that 24-hour period.

A hurricane watch is now posted for the northeast Gulf Coast from the Alabama/Florida border to Suwanee River, Florida. This includes Pensacola, Panama City and Tallahassee. Hurricane watches are issued 48 hours before the arrival of tropical-storm-force winds which is when outside preparations become dangerous.

Tropical storm watches are in effect from Suwanee River, Florida, to Anna Maria Island, Florida, including Tampa Bay. Also in a tropical storm watch is a swath from the Alabama/Florida border to the Mississippi/Alabama border as well as inland areas of southern Alabama and southwest Georgia.

A storm surge watch has been hoisted from Navarre, Florida, to Anna Maria Island, Florida, including Tampa Bay. This means life-threatening storm surge inundation is possible in the watch area within 48 hours.

Interests along the northeastern Gulf Coast in the path of Michael should be making preparations. Follow the advice of local officials if you are ordered to evacuate, particularly if you live in a storm surge prone location.

Forecast: U.S. Gulf Coast Threat Midweek

Forecast guidance is unanimous that Michael will be drawn northward through the Gulf of Mexico and pose a threat to the northeastern Gulf Coast by Tuesday night or Wednesday.
Michael is expected to become a hurricane on Monday and will continue to intensify early this week, potentially approaching major hurricane strength before it makes landfall. This will be due to a combination of increasingly favorable upper-level winds and above average sea-surface temperatures along Michael’s path.

Here’s a general overview of what we know right now.

Timing

– Landfall is most likely to occur somewhere between the Florida Panhandle and the Big Bend of Florida Wednesday into Wednesday night. Depending on how quickly or slowly Michael begins to turn northeast, landfall could be delayed until early Thursday.
– Conditions could begin to deteriorate as early as Tuesday night on the northeast Gulf Coast.
– After landfall, Michael will then move farther inland across the southeastern U.S. into late-week.

Intensity

– The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Michael to be a Category 2 hurricane when it makes landfall. However, the intensity forecast is uncertain, and Michael could be slightly weaker or even stronger than that at landfall. There is a chance Michael could be near major hurricane strength (Category 3+) when it approaches the coast.

Wind

– Hurricane-force winds (74-plus mph) could arrive in the hurricane watch area on the northeast Gulf Coast by Wednesday.
– Tropical-storm-force winds (39-plus mph) are most likely to arrive in the tropical storm watch area on the northeastern Gulf Coast by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
– Widespread power outages, tree damage and structural damage could occur along the path of Michael near and just inland from where it makes landfall on the northeastern Gulf Coast.
– Windy conditions may extend farther inland across parts of the Southeast as Michael moves northeast, including parts of southern Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. Although there is uncertainty with the strength of winds across inland locations, there could be scattered tree damage and scattered power outages.

Storm Surge

– Dangerous storm surge flooding will occur along the immediate coastline near and east of where the center makes landfall.
– Michael is expected to affect portions of the Florida Gulf coast that are especially vulnerable to storm surge, particularly Apalachee Bay south of Tallahassee.

The National Hurricane Center says water levels on the coast could reach the following heights if the peak storm surge arrives at high tide:

Indian Pass to Crystal River: 7 to 11 feet
Crystal River to Anclote River: 4 to 6 feet
Okaloosa/Walton County Line to Indian Pass 4 to 7 feet
Anclote River to Anna Maria Island including Tampa Bay: 2 to 4 ft
Navarre to Okaloosa/Walton County Line: 2 to 4 feet

Here are the high tides for Wednesday and Thursday for a few locations in the storm surge threat area (all times are local):

Panama City: 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday | 11:00 p.m. on Thursday
Apalachicola: 4:39 a.m. and 6:10 p.m. on Wednesday | 4:58 a.m. and 7:04 p.m. on Thursday
Cedar Key: 2:48 a.m. and 3:36 p.m. on Wednesday | 3:18 a.m. and 4:19 p.m. on Thursday
Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg: 2:46 a.m. and 4:06 p.m. on Wednesday | 3:09 a.m. and 4:55 p.m. on Thursday

On the Southeast coast, onshore winds and high astronomical tides will also lead to some coastal flooding this week. Charleston Harbor is forecast to see minor to moderate coastal flooding at high tide.

Rainfall

– Heavy rain is likely to spread inland from the northeastern Gulf Coast midweek to other parts of the southeastern U.S. into late-week.
– Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are forecast from the Florida Panhandle into southern Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center. Locally up to a foot of rain is possible. This may cause life-threatening flash flooding in some areas.
– Some heavy rain could affect parts of the Carolinas that were devastated by flooding from Hurricane Florence. That said, this system is unlikely to stall like Florence did and will, therefore, not bring extreme rainfall amounts. Some flooding could still occur there, but details are uncertain this far out in time.

Tornadoes

– As is typical with landfalling hurricanes, isolated tornadoes will be a threat on the eastern side of the storm.
– A tornado threat may develop in the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia by Wednesday.

Check back with weather.com throughout the week ahead for more details on the forecast for Michael.

Cuba and Mexico Impact

A hurricane warning is now effect for the Pinar del Rio Province in western Cuba. Hurricane conditions are possible there later Monday.

Tropical storm warnings have been posted for Isle of Youth, Cuba, and Mexico’s northeastern Yucatan Peninsula, including Cozumel.

Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches (locally 12 inches) are forecast over western Cuba, with 1 to 2 inches over the northeast Yucatan Peninsula.
These downpours could contribute to life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas of mountainous terrain.

Winter Storm Diego Set to Strike Southeast

Posted on December 7, 2018December 9, 2018 by Safeguard

Updated 12/9/18: FOX News (Carolina) issued a report titled Power outage numbers continue to climb in the Upstate, Mountains as winter weather continues.

Link to article

North/South Carolina Power Outages (by county) as of 12/9/18:

Buncombe: 18,355
Haywood: 9,649
Henderson: 8,186
Jackson: 4,004
Macon: 6,080
Polk: 7,007
Rutherford: 12,844
Transylvania: 7,131
Cherokee (SC) – 1,219
Greenville: 12,226
Oconee: 916
Pickens: 492
Spartanburg: 15,076

Source: FOX Carolina

Updated 12/9/18: The Weather Channel published an article titled Winter Storm Diego Leaves Nearly 270,000 Without Power Across Southeast.

Link to article

Updated 12/8/18: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Winter Storm Diego.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

Updated 12/7/18: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Winter Storm Diego.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

Updated 12/6/18: Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued a statewide emergency declaration in anticipation of Winter Storm Diego.

Link to declaration

Link to associated ZIP Code list

Industry Alert
December 6, 2018

Source: The Weather Channel

Winter Storm Diego will spread a widespread mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the southern Plains to the Southeast late this week into early next week.

Diego was named Wednesday evening with the expectation that its long swath of wintry precipitation will meet both the areal and population thresholds used to trigger naming. Population criteria for naming was reached late Friday afternoon.

The storm system is currently producing lower-elevation rain and mountain snow from parts of the Southwest into the southern Plains.

Some pockets of mixed precip are possible this afternoon in the Texas panhandle.

Heavy rain and high elevation snow caused problems in southern California on Thursday.

Mudslides and flash flooding forced evacuations and necessitated several rescues while higher elevations in the southern Sierra picked up 6 inches of snowfall.

Into early next week, Diego will unleash its heaviest amounts of snow and ice as it moves farther eastward while interacting with cold air supplied by high pressure to its north. The snow and ice will cause significant travel disruptions from parts of the southern Plains into the Southeast. Ice accumulations in some areas may be heavy enough for tree damage and power outages as well.

Current Winter Alerts

Winter weather advisories have been issued by the National Weather Service for portions of New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle, as well as in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Winter storm watches are posted for parts of southeastern New Mexico, northern Texas and Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma City area.

Winter storm warnings are in effect for much of northern Arkansas for the early part of the weekend.

Winter storm warnings and winter storm watches are also in effect for western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, upstate South Carolina and extreme northeastern Georgia for Saturday evening through Monday. This area includes Charlotte, Greensboro and Asheville, North Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina and Johnson City, Tennessee.

These warnings and watches stand as a heads up that dangerous winter weather conditions, including heavy snow and/or damaging ice, are possible this weekend.

There is still some uncertainty in key forecast details, but the odds continue to increase for a major winter storm.

Winter Storm Diego Timing

Into Friday Night

– Freezing rain will develop and become more widespread by Friday evening across the Texas Panhandle.

– By Friday night, widespread snow will develop from eastern New Mexico into the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma.

– Snow, sleet and freezing rain may spread as far east as southern Missouri and northern Arkansas by Friday night.

– Rain, heavy at times, is expected farther south across Texas, Louisiana, southern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, southern Tennessee and northwestern Alabama.

– Travel will likely be affected by wet and/or wintry weather on stretches of interstates 40 and 35 in the southern Plains.

Sunday-Sunday Night

– Snow, heavy at times, will affect the southern half of the Appalachians, potentially including far upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina, southern Virginia and southern West Virginia.

– Snow, ice and strong winds increase the possibility of falling trees and power lines, according to the National Weather Service.

– Significant ice or snow will impact parts of the adjacent foothills and Piedmont region as far south and east as the Interstate 85 corridor in the Carolinas and possibly as far east as Interstate 95 in southern Virginia.

– Travel disruption is possible on stretches of Interstate 26, Interstate 40, Interstate 85, Interstate 77 and Interstate 95.

– Strong onshore winds may contribute to pounding surf, beach erosion and possible coastal flooding from the southern mid-Atlantic coast to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, including the Delmarva Peninsula and the Virginia Tidewater.

Monday

– Strengthening low pressure off the Southeast coast may allow a rain-and-snow mix to linger from the southern Appalachians and adjacent Piedmont into the Tennessee Valley.

– We will continue to monitor the storm for any potential turn toward the northeastern United States early next week. As of right now, the majority of forecast guidance suggests the low will stay far enough offshore to prevent major impacts in the Northeast.

How Much Snow and Ice?

Snow and ice accumulations from this storm will be expansive, extending from the southern Plains, Ozarks and to the southern half of the Appalachian Mountains and the adjacent Piedmont region.

Significant mixing is likely in each of these areas, meaning additional rain, sleet or freezing rain compared to these forecasts will cut down snowfall totals. If the air is colder than currently forecast, then the opposite could occur, and more snow would accumulate.

Here’s an initial look at what to expect in each region, keeping in mind it’s subject to change.

Southern Plains and Ozarks

– Snow totals in the southern Plains are forecast to be generally less than 6 inches in the Texas Panhandle, eastern New Mexico and in southwestern Oklahoma.

– Light to moderate snow is possible in parts of the Ozarks in northern Arkansas. Some sleet and freezing rain will also mix in at times.

– Significant icing, potentially causing tree damage and triggering power outages, cannot be ruled out from northern Arkansas into northwestern Tennessee and far southwestern Kentucky.

Ohio Valley to the Appalachians and Piedmont

– The heaviest snow accumulations from Winter Storm Diego will be in the southern Appalachians in western North Carolina. Totals topping a half-foot or even a foot are likely in this region.

– Significant ice and snow accumulations could also impact the adjacent foothills and Piedmont, as well as into parts of southern Virginia, but it’s too early for specifics since precipitation types may vary in those lower elevations.

– Power outages and tree damage could occur in areas where snow and ice accumulations are heaviest.

– Some light snow or light ice accumulation also cannot be ruled out as far south as northeastern Georgia.

There is the possibility that Diego could bring a foot or more of snow to Asheville, North Carolina.

In records dating to 1869, the western North Carolina city has only seen a dozen snowstorms with accumulations of at least 12 inches.

FEMA Declared Disaster Connecticut

Posted on December 6, 2018December 12, 2018 by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
December 5, 2018

FEMA issued a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Connecticut affected by severe storms and flooding from September 25-26, 2018. The following counties and tribal areas are eligible for assistance:

Public Assistance

Middlesex
New London
Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe (New London County, 06338)
Mohegan Tribe of Indians (New London County, 06382)

NOTE: Tribal area ZIP Codes are approximate and may not be complete.

FEMA Release: Declared Disaster for Connecticut

ZIP Code List for FEMA Declared Disaster for Connecticut

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

Tornadoes Touch Down in Plains States

Posted on December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 by Safeguard

Updated 12/3/18: Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued an emergency declaration as a result of severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds beginning on November 30, 2018.

Link to declaration

Link to associated county ZIP Code list

NOTE: This is independent from any FEMA Declared Disaster.

Industry Alert
December 2, 2018

Source: The Weather Channel

Approximate areas sustaining property damage:

Arkansas
Van Buren (Crawford County, 72956, 72957)

Illinois
Taylorville (Christian County, 62568)

Missouri
Ridegedale (Taney County, 65739)

Oklahoma
Blackgum (Sequoyah County, 74962)
Gore (Sequoya, Muskogee counties, 74435)
Tenkiller (Cherokee County, 74471, 74931)

A storm system that tore from the Plains into the Southeast this weekend produced more than two dozen tornadoes and left behind a trail of destruction in several states.

Five people were injured in southeastern Georgia, including four at a nearby Naval base, when a tornado struck Camden County Sunday around 4 p.m., Action News Jax reported.

A pair of sailors at Kings Bay Naval Base were injured when they were thrown from a patrol boat and two fishermen on a close by pier suffered minor injuries, base officials reported.

Scott Bassett, a public information officer at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, told weather.com that no submarines were damaged in the storm. He said there was wind damage to a pier facility in the southeast part of the base where smaller Coast Guard vessels dock. He also said the storm knocked down utility poles and flipped vehicles.

The same system spawned an EF3 tornado Saturday that left more than 500 buildings damaged or destroyed and 26 people injured in Taylorville, Illinois. The tornado struck the town of about 11,200 residents just after 5 p.m. Saturday.

The storm system also was responsible for at least four tornadoes that caused extensive damage in Oklahoma and killed one person in a southwestern Missouri.

Fire Chief Robert Ward told KYTV that one person inside an Aurora, Missouri, motel was killed as a storm passed through. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado in the area. An EF0 was confirmed to have hit Monett, Missouri.

Authorities have not released the person’s name or details of how the death occurred.

A tornado was reported near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, around 9:30 p.m. CST. Widespread damage was reported around the Lake Tenkiller area as the storm tracked on towards Arkansas. The storm was accompanied by a strong tornado debris signature, indicating that significant damage may have occurred for some time.

As daylight arrived Saturday, extensive damage could be seen from social media posts, including damage to the Snake Creek Marina at Lake Tenkiller.

“There’s nothing left. No marina. Nothing. My boat’s gone and everything is gone,” Michael Martin told KOTV. “This is devastating right here. I mean few of the docks have been torn up, but these are destroyed. There ain’t nothing left down there.”

Law enforcement reported several homes damaged in the town of Tenkiller, according to ABC 40/29 News.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane told the news station a family trapped in a storm cellar by a downed tree was rescued.

In Gore, Oklahoma, three homes were damaged, one severely, and in Aurora, a car dealership sustained heavy damage.

Several homes were damaged in Van Buren, Arkansas.

In Missouri, a wind gust to 83 mph was recorded near Republic, and in Ridgedale, the top two Floors of D’Monaco Resort sustained significant damage, the National Weather Service reported.

On Sunday, the National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes had hit Oklahoma on Friday. Webber Falls saw an EF1 tornado that traveled about 7 miles. The tornado that hit near Lake Tenkiller was an EF2 that traveled about 25 miles and had top winds of 125 mph.

An area of low pressure moved into the southern Plains Friday night and intensified, said weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam. This system combined with mild and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico to produce strong to severe thunderstorms Friday night from northern Texas into southern Missouri.

This system will continue tracking eastward and will bring the risk of severe storms, with damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes, to parts of the South and Midwest, possibly as far north as central Illinois and central Indiana on Saturday, Lam said.

FHFA: Non-performing Loan Sales Report

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Safeguard

Investor Update
December 4, 2018

Source: FHFA

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its semiannual report providing information about the sale of non-performing loans (NPLs) by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises). The Enterprise Non-Performing Loan Sales Report includes information about NPLs sold from August 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018, and reflects borrower outcomes as of June 30. The sale of NPLs reduces the number of delinquent loans in the Enterprises’ portfolios and transfers credit risk to the private sector. FHFA and the Enterprises impose requirements on NPL buyers designed to achieve more favorable outcomes for borrowers than foreclosure.

The new report shows that, through June 30, 2018, the Enterprises sold 98,061 NPLs with a total unpaid principal balance (UPB) of $18.7 billion.

In the first half of 2018, 7,140 NPLs were sold, compared to 18,419 total NPLs sold in 2017.
NPLs sold through the first half of 2018 had an average delinquency of 3.1 years and an average current loan-to-value ratio of 95 percent (not including capitalized arrearages).
New Jersey, New York, and Florida accounted for 46 percent of NPLs sold. These three states also accounted for 47 percent of the Enterprises’ loans that were 1 year or more delinquent as of December 31, 2014, prior to the start of NPL programmatic sales in 2015.
From December 31, 2015 to June 30, 2018 the number of loans one or more years delinquent held in the Enterprises’ portfolio decreased by 61 percent.

The borrower outcomes in this report are as of June 30, 2018 and are based on the 88,200 NPLs that were settled by December 31, 2017.

These outcomes reflect the following:

As of June 30, 2018, 62 percent of these NPLs had been resolved.
Compared to a benchmark of similarly-delinquent Enterprise NPLs that were not sold, foreclosures avoided for sold NPLs were higher than the benchmark.
NPLs on homes occupied by borrowers had the highest rate of foreclosure avoidance outcomes (28.2 percent foreclosure avoided versus 12.7 percent for vacant properties).
NPLs on vacant homes had a much higher rate of foreclosure, more than double the foreclosure rate of borrower-occupied properties (65.9 percent foreclosure versus 28.6 percent for borrower occupied properties). Foreclosures on vacant homes typically improve neighborhood stability and reduce blight as the homes are sold or rented to new occupants.
Twenty percent of the permanent modifications of NPLs incorporated arrearage and/or principal forgiveness. The average forgiveness earned per loan to date was $55,280 (with the potential to earn an average forgiveness of $77,491).

FHFA will continue to provide reporting on NPL sales borrower outcomes on an ongoing basis.

Link to Non-Performing Loan Sales Report

Link to NPL page on FHFA.gov

Contacts:
Media: Corinne Russell (202) 649-3032 / Stefanie Johnson (202) 649-3030
Consumers: Consumer Communications or (202) 649-3811

VA: VALERI Servicer Newsflash

Posted on December 4, 2018December 4, 2018 by Safeguard

Investor Update
November 28, 2018

Source: VA

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Circular 26-18-26, Special Relief Following California Wildfires, was issued on November 15, 2018, and is located on the VALERI internet at https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/servicers_valeri.asp.

Fee Cost Schedule Updates – Effective December 1, 2018, the maximum allowed wind insurance amount in certain states will increase to $2,000. Also, effective December 1, 2018, the state pre-foreclosure fee (currently allowable in Oregon and North Carolina only) will be allowable in Rhode Island. These changes will be updated and reflected on the VALERI Fee Cost Schedule, which is located at http://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/servicers_valeri_rules.asp.

VALERI Reports – Black Knight postponed the update for the VALERI reports database (originally scheduled to be completed November 9, 2018, to November 11, 2018) until Friday, December 14, 2018, from 8:00 PM EST until Sunday, December 16, 2018, at 12:00 PM EST. Reports will not be available during this time. Existing scheduled reports will be saved but will not “run” after the update. Therefore, users should retain a copy of their saved scheduled report queries by December 14, 2018, to reschedule the reports after December 16, 2018.

REMINDER

Redemption Instructions – Redemption Instructions are located on the VALERI internet at
https://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/servicers_valeri_guides.asp. All questions and inquiries related to redemption procedures are to be directed to vrm-redemption@vrmco.com.

CFPB: Ombudsman’s Office 2018 Annual Report

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Safeguard

Investor Update
November 29, 2018

Source: CFPB

Today my office’s seventh annual report is available on our webpage. At the Ombudsman’s Office, we are an independent, impartial, and confidential resource that assists consumers, financial entities, consumer or trade groups, and others in informally resolving process issues with the Bureau. In short, we advocate for fair process in consumer financial protection.

As in previous years, our annual report outlines our work process and summarizes our activities from fiscal year 2018. This year, the report introduces a new office brochure and appendix of charts and figures for ease of reference. We provide examples of our work throughout the report and highlight the various ways we assist in our Demonstrating the Ombudsman in Practice section, such as: assisting stakeholders in engaging with the Bureau’s Request for Information process, sharing resources to assist consumers in recognizing financial frauds and scams, and facilitating technical assistance to companies responding to consumer complaints.

This report shares our new internal and external engagement for this year as well as updates to our ombudsman terminology project and Ombudsman Interactives pilot. This year we also hosted two Ombudsman Forums and include summaries of these events, with new criteria to determine future Forums. In addition, we share the data and analysis surrounding the individual inquiries received by our office over time.

Additionally, you’ll find discussion and our accompanying feedback and recommendations on three topics as well as an update on an issue we studied last year:

Entities mentioned for a positive purpose in Bureau materials
Submission of information for consumer complaints
Legal disclaimers introducing Bureau webinars
How non-consumers contact the Bureau by phone

We are a consistent resource and at the same time are always considering new, creative ways to advocate for fair process. We welcome you to connect with us on topics that we have shared in our report, ask questions about our role, or discuss process matters at CFPBOmbudsman@cfpb.gov or (855) 830-7880. Visit our webpage for more information about the Ombudsman’s Office, including our prior annual reports.

MHA: HAMP Update: 2019 Operational Reporting Calendar Posted

Posted on December 4, 2018December 4, 2018 by Safeguard

Investor Update
November 21, 2018

Source: MHA

The 2019 MHA Operational Reporting Calendar has been posted on HMPAdmin.com. It is located under the Programs tab on the main page of the site under Loan Reporting Documents / Data Reporting Resources /Operational Reporting Calendar link.

FEMA Declared Disaster Tohono O’odham Nation (Arizona)

Posted on December 3, 2018December 12, 2018 by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
November 30, 2018

FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in the Tohono O’odham Nation (Arizona) affected by severe storms and flooding from October 1-3, 2018.

NOTE: Tribal area ZIP Codes are approximate and may not be complete.

FEMA Release: Declared Disaster for Tohono O’odham Nation

ZIP Code List for FEMA Declared Disaster for Tohono O’odham Nation

Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

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

Fannie Mae: Investor Reporting eLearnings; Changes to Master Servicing Communications

Posted on November 30, 2018 by Safeguard

Investor Update
November 7, 2018

Source: Fannie Mae

Check out two new Investor Reporting eLearnings

Are you new to Investor Reporting? Looking for a refresher? Review the How Modifications Affect Investor Reportingand Resolving Failed Business Rules and Hard RejectseLearnings for an overview on modified loans. Learn how they’re managed in our systems, best reporting practices, and more — all at your own pace. Visit the Servicing Trainingpage for more information.

Changes to Single-Family Master Servicing communications

We’re making small changes to how Single-Family (SF) Master Servicing receives your calls and emails this month.

Here’s what you can expect:

When calling 1-800-2FANNIE, you will be required to enter a valid servicer number to reach an analyst.
When emailing the SF Master Servicing team:
You will receive an auto-response if you do not include your servicer number within your email. Reply to the email with your servicer number (please do not include hyphens or dashes).
You will also receive a “case” number in your auto-response (this will replace what we currently refer to as the “ticket” number).
The subject line of the reply email will contain reference numbers (e.g., [ref:_00De05T6i7._500e0CmRSm:ref]) that allow us to track our correspondence. Please keep the reference numbers in the subject when you respond to the email.
Contact the SF Master Servicing team at master_servicing@fanniemae.com or call 1-800-2FANNIE (Option 1, then Option 6). For assistance using our technology applications, contact the Technology Support Center, available 24/7 (except major holidays), at 1-800-2FANNIE or via web chat.

Join us at these upcoming events:

View more events.