Tropical Storm Eta Makes Second Florida Landfall

Updated 3/3/21: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in North Carolina affected by Tropical Storm Eta November 12-15, 2020.

North Carolina Tropical Storm Eta (DR-4588)

Updated 11/12/20: The Weather Channel issued a report providing the latest on impacts from Tropical Storm Eta, which made a second landfall in Florida and is spreading high winds and flooding rain to multiple areas.

Tropical Storm Eta Floods Florida Homes, Businesses and Shuts Down Streets

Approximate locations reportedly sustaining structural damage/flooding:

Florida

– Bradenton Beach (Manatee County, 34217, 34218)
– Cedar Key (Levy County, 32625)
*Landfall zone
– Gulport (Pinellas County, 33707, 33711)
– Longboat Key (Manatee, Sarasota Counties, 34228)
*Concentrated home flooding reported in The Village area (off Russell St.) and along St. Jude Dr.
– Madeira Beach (Pinellas County, 33708, 33738)
– Oldsmar (Pinellas County, 34677)
*Home flooding reported on Shore Dr. E. (storm surge/rain)
– Safety Harbor (Pinellas County, 34695)
– St. Pete Beach (Pinellas County, 33706, 33707, 33736)
– St. Petersburg (Pinellas County, 33702, 33705)
*Reported impacted ZIP codes only
*Serious flooding reported at Twin City Mobile Home Park/Trak Motel Apartments
– Shore Acres/St. Petersburg (Pinellas County, 33703)
– Tampa (Hillsborough County, 33606, 33611, 33614 33629)
*Reported impacted ZIP codes only
*Possible home flooding in neighborhoods along Bayshore Blvd.
– Venice (Sarasota County, 34284, 34285, 34286, 34287, 34290, 34291, 34292, 34293)
– Treasure Island (Pinellas County, 33706, 33740)

Updated 11/11/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Eta beginning on November 7, 2020 and continuing.

Florida Hurricane Eta (EM-3551-FL)

Associated County ZIP Code List (13 Counties)

Updated 11/11/20:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis amended his original state of emergency declaration to include several additional counties facing direct impacts from Hurricane Eta.

Executive Order 20-278

Associated County ZIP Code (Updated)

Updated 11/11/20: The Weather Channel published a report providing the latest forecast information for Hurricane Eta, which is tracking toward the Big Bend region of Florida.

Hurricane Eta Spreading Heavy Rainfall, Gusty Winds Into Florida Gulf Coast

Updated 11/9/20: The Weather Channel issued a report providing the latest updates on Tropical Storm Eta, which made landfall in the Florida Keys and lashed the area with torrential rain.

Tropical Storm Eta’s Drenching Rains Turn Florida Streets Into Rivers

Additional Resource:

Local10.com (Water invading neighborhoods across Broward County due to Eta)

Approximate locations reportedly sustaining structural damage/flooding:

Florida

– Fort Lauderdale (Broward County, 33308)
*Approximate impacted ZIP code only
– Key Largo (Monroe County, 33037)
*Tree on home
– Matecumbe Key (Monroe County, 33036)
*Landfall zone

– Miami (Miami-Dade County, 33150)
*Impacted ZIP code only
*Tree on home (NW 4th Ct.)
– Miami Gardens (Miami-Dade County, 33014, 33015, 33017, 33054, 33055, 33056, 33169, 33179)
*Concentrated home flooding appears to be in 33056 ZIP code
– River Oaks/Fort Lauderdale (Broward County, 33312, 33315)

Updated 11/7/20: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for eight counties in anticipation of Tropical Storm Eta.

Executive Order Number 20-277

Associated County ZIP Code List

Updated 11/6/20:
The Weather Channel issued a report outlining the latest forecast for Tropical Depression Eta, which currently is tracking toward South Florida and could impact the area as a tropical storm.

Eta Expected to Strengthen to a Tropical Storm and Track Toward South Florida Early Next Week


Disaster Alert

November 5, 2020

Source: The Weather Channel

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

At a Glance

  • Eta has weakened to a tropical depression over Central America.
  • The system is expected to approach Florida with rain, wind and high surf early next week.
  • Until then, life-threatening inland flooding will persist for days in Central America.

Eta is expected to re-strengthen over the Caribbean Sea this weekend and could approach South Florida early next week after bringing flooding rainfall to Central America over the next few days.

Eta has become very disorganized due to its interaction with the mountainous terrain of Central America. Catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding could occur in some parts of Central America through this weekend, according to the NHC. Landslides are possible in areas with mountainous terrain.

Eta could dissipate for a time as it tracks farther inland through Central America, but that doesn’t mean the forecast for this system comes to an end.

The remnant spin and energy from Eta are expected to emerge over the northwest Caribbean Sea on Friday. That’s when Eta could reorganize into a depression or storm, as depicted in the latest forecast above from the National Hurricane Center.

Eta will be steered northeastward initially once it moves back over the northwest Caribbean beginning Friday. That’s because Eta will be pushed in that direction by the interaction with the counterclockwise flow around an upper-level low-pressure system located in the Gulf of Mexico, as seen in the graphic below.

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