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Hurricane Zeta Leaves Trail of Damage Across Southern U.S.

Updated 1/27/20: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Alabama affected by Hurricane Zeta from October 28-29, 2020.

Alabama Hurricane Zeta (DR-4573 Amendment 2)

Updated 1/13/20: FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Alabama affected by Hurricane Zeta from October 28-29, 2020.

Alabama Hurricane Zeta (DR-4573 Amendment 1)

Updated 1/12/21: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Zeta from October 26-29, 2020.

Louisiana Hurricane Zeta (DR-4577)

Updated 1/12/21: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Georgia affected by Tropical Storm Zeta from October 28 to November 1, 2020.

Georgia Tropical Storm Zeta (DR-4579)

Updated 12/31/20: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by Hurricane Zeta from October 28-29, 2020.

Mississippi Hurricane Zeta (DR-4576)

Updated 12/10/20: FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Alabama affected by Hurricane Zeta from October 28-29, 2020.

Alabama Hurricane Zeta (DR-4573)

Updated 10/30/20: The Weather Channel published a report offering a recap of Hurricane Zeta, which has directly impacted portions of the Deep South.

Hurricane Zeta Recap

Approximate locations reportedly sustaining possible structural damage (primarily wind):

Alabama
– Citronelle (Mobile County, 36522)
– Clark County (36419, 36436, 36446, 36451, 36482, 36501, 36515, 36524, 36540, 36545, 36570, 36586, 36727, 36762, 36784)
*County-wide structural damage
– Dauphin Island (Mobile County, 36528)
– Lincoln (Talladega County, 35096)
– Prattville (Autauga/Elmore counties, 36066, 36067, 36068)
– Thomasville (Clarke County, 36784)

Georgia
– Atlanta (Fulton County, 30305, 30318)
*Reported impacted ZIP codes only
– Acworth (Cherokee County, 30101, 30102)
– Buford (Gwinnett County, 30515, 30518, 30519)
– Hoschton (Jackson County, 30548)

Louisiana
– Chalmette (St. Bernard Parish, 70043, 70044)
– Chauvin (Terrebonne Parish, 70344)
– Cocodrie (Terrebonne Parish, 70344)
– Cut Off (Lafourche Parish, 70345)
– Galliano (Lafourche Parish, 70354)
– Golden Meadow (Lafourche Parish, 70357)
– Grand Isle (Jefferson Parish, 70358)
– Gretna (Jefferson Parish, 70053, 70054, 70056)
– Lafitte (Jefferson Parish, 70067)
– Leeville (Lafourche Parish, 70357)
– Marrero (Jefferson Parish, 70072, 70073)
– New Orleans (Orleans Parish, 70113, 70115, 70118, 70119, 70122, 70126)
*Reported impacted ZIP codes only
– Phoenix (Plaquemines Parish, 70040)
– St. Bernard Parish (70032, 70043, 70044, 70075, 70085, 70092)
*Hardest hit

Mississippi
– Bay St. Louis (Hancock County, 39520, 39521, 39522)
-Beaumont (Perry County, 39423)
– Biloxi (Harrison County, 39530, 39531, 39532, 39533, 39534, 39535)
– Brooklyn (Forrest County, 39425)
– D’Iberville (Harrison County, 39540)
– Janice (Perry County, 39425)
– Lakeshore (Hancock County, 39558)
– Lucedale (George County, 39452)
– New Augusta (Perry County, 39462)
– Rawls Springs (Forrest County, 39402)
– Waveland (Hancock County, 39520, 39576)

North Carolina
– Asheville (Buncombe County, 28801, 28802, 28803, 28804, 28805, 28806, 28810, 28813, 28814, 28815)

South Carolina
– Greenville (Greenville County, 29601, 29602, 29603, 29604, 29605, 29606, 29607, 29608, 29609, 29610, 29611, 29612, 29613, 29614, 29615, 29616, 29617)
– Landrum (Spartanburg County, 29356)

Updated 10/29/20: The Weather Channel issued a report detailing impacts from Hurricane Zeta, which made landfall near Cocodrie, La., on Wednesday.

Zeta Knocks Out Power to 2.6 Million and Kills 3 People as It Races Across the South

Updated 10/28/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Mississippi affected by Hurricane Zeta beginning on October 27, 2020 and continuing.

Mississippi Hurricane Zeta (EM-3550)

Associated County ZIP Code List

Updated 10/28/20: Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued an emergency declaration in anticipation of Hurricane Zeta.

Mississippi governor signs emergency declaration ahead of Zeta (Media article available only)

Updated 10/28/20: The Weather Channel published a report offering the latest forecast information for Hurricane Zeta, which is expected to make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast within the next several hours.

Hurricane Zeta Rapidly Strengthens Into Category 2 as it Nears Landfall in Louisiana, Mississippi

Updated 10/27/20: FEMA issued an Emergency Declaration for areas in Louisiana affected by Tropical Storm Zeta beginning on October 26, 2020 and continuing.

Louisiana Tropical Storm Zeta (EM-3549)

Associated Parish ZIP Code List (Statewide)

Updated 10/27/20: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a statewide emergency proclamation in anticipation of Tropical Storm Zeta.

State of Emergency: Tropical Storm Zeta

Associated County ZIP Code List (Statewide)

Updated 10/27/20: CNN published a report providing the latest forecast information for Tropical Storm Zeta, which is tracking toward the U.S. Gulf Coast after making landfall in Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane.

Tropical Storm Zeta makes its way toward the US coast after slamming into Mexico as a hurricane

Updated 10/26/20: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statewide emergency proclamation in anticipation of Hurricane Zeta.

Gov. Edwards Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Hurricane Zeta

Associated Parish ZIP Code List

 

Disaster Alert
October 26, 2020

Source: The Weather Channel

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

At a Glance

  • Tropical Storm Zeta is in the northwest Caribbean.
  • Zeta is likely to become a hurricane before striking Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
  • Zeta will bring rainfall, storm surge and winds impacts to the northern Gulf Coast.

Tropical Storm Zeta is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it heads for a strike on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and the northern U.S. Gulf Coast, where it’s likely to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surge.

Current Status

Zeta is centered in the northwest Caribbean right now and is moving northwestward toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, from Tulum to Dzilam, including Cozumel and Cancún. Hurricane conditions are expected in this area Monday night into early Tuesday.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and for small areas west and south of the hurricane warning in Mexico.

Forecast Track, Intensity

Warm sea-surface temperatures and favorable upper-level winds should allow Zeta to become a hurricane as it heads toward the Yucatan Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico Monday night into Tuesday. That would make Zeta the Atlantic’s 11th hurricane of the season.

Increasing wind shear and cooler waters should prevent additional strengthening of Zeta as it approaches the northern U.S. Gulf Coast by midweek. Zeta could be near or at hurricane strength when it makes landfall late Wednesday, somewhere from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle, according to the latest National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast.

It’s important to note that impacts from rainfall, wind and storm surge along the northern Gulf Coast will largely be the same no matter whether Zeta is a strong tropical storm or a low-end hurricane when it nears landfall.

For full report, please click the source link above.

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the chief executive officer for Safeguard, 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® finalist in 2013.

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Chief Operating Officer

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the chief operating officer for Safeguard. Mike has been instrumental in aligning operations to become more efficient, effective, and compliant with our ever-changing industry requirements. Mike has a proven track record of excellence, partnership and collaboration at Safeguard. Under Mike’s leadership, all operational departments of Safeguard have reviewed, updated and enhanced their business processes to maximize efficiency and improve quality control.

Mike joined Safeguard in July 2010 as vice president of REO and has continued to take on additional duties and responsibilities within the organization, including the role of vice president of operations in 2013 and then COO in 2015.

Mike built his business career in supply-chain management, operations, finance and marketing. He has held senior management and executive positions with Erico, a manufacturing company in Solon, Ohio; Accel, Inc., a packaging company in Lewis Center, Ohio; and McMaster-Carr, an industrial supply company in Aurora, Ohio.

Before entering the business world, Mike served in the U.S. Army, Ordinance Branch, and specialized in supply chain management. He is a distinguished graduate of West Point (U.S. Military Academy), where he majored in quantitative economics.

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CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

Sean Reddington

Sean Reddington is the new Chief Information Officer for Safeguard Properties LLC. Sean has over 15+ years of experience in Information Services Management with a strong focus on Product and Application Management. Sean is responsible for Safeguard’s technological direction, including planning, implementation and maintaining all operational systems

Sean has a proven record of accomplishment for increasing operational efficiencies, improving customer service levels, and implementing and maintaining IT initiatives to support successful business processes.  He has provided the vision and dedicated leadership for key technologies for Fortune 100 companies, and nationally recognized consulting firms including enterprise system architecture, security, desktop and database management systems. Sean possesses strong functional and system knowledge of information security, systems and software, contracts management, budgeting, human resources and legal and related regulatory compliance.

Sean joined Safeguard Properties LLC from RenPSG Inc. which is a nationally leading Philintropic Software Platform in the Fintech space. He oversaw the organization’s technological direction including planning, implementing and maintaining the best practices that align with all corporate functions. He also provided day-to-day technology operations, enterprise security, information risk and vulnerability management, audit and compliance, security awareness and training.

Prior to RenPSG, Sean worked for DMI Consulting as a Client Success Director where he guided the delivery in a multibillion-dollar Fortune 500 enterprise client account. He was responsible for all project deliveries in terms of quality, budget and timeliness and led the team to coordinate development and definition of project scope and limitations. Sean also worked for KPMG Consulting in their Microsoft Practice and Technicolor’s Ebusiness Division where he had responsibility for application development, maintenance, and support.

Sean is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts and received his Masters in International Business from Central Michigan University. He was also a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force prior to his career in the business world.

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General Counsel and Executive Vice President

Linda Erkkila, Esq.

Linda Erkkila is the general counsel and executive vice president for Safeguard and oversees the legal, human resources, training, and compliance departments. Linda’s responsibilities cover regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, enterprise strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, litigation and claims management, and 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. Her practice spans over 20 years, and Linda’s experience covers regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, executive compensation, litigation management, and merger and acquisition activity. Her experience at a former Fortune 500 financial institution during the subprime crisis helped develop Linda’s pro-active approach to change management during periods of heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Linda previously served as vice president and attorney for National City Corporation, as securities and corporate governance counsel for Agilysys Inc., and as an associate at Thompson Hine LLP. She earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Linda holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. In 2017, Linda was named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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Chief Financial Officer

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Accounting & Information Security departments, and is a Managing Director of SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Joe has been in a wide variety of roles in finance, supply chain management, information systems development, and sales and marketing. His career includes senior positions with McMaster-Carr Supply Company, Newell/Rubbermaid, and Procter and Gamble.

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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AVP, High Risk and Investor Compliance

Steve Meyer

Steve Meyer is the assistant vice president of high risk and investor compliance for Safeguard. In this role, Steve is responsible for managing our clients’ conveyance processes, Safeguard’s investor compliance team and developing our working relationships with cities and municipalities around the country. He also works directly with our clients in our many outreach efforts and he represents Safeguard at a number of industry conferences each year.

Steve joined Safeguard in 1998 as manager over the hazard claims team. He was instrumental in the development and creation of policies, procedures and operating protocol. Under Steve’s leadership, the department became one of the largest within Safeguard. In 2002, he assumed responsibility for the newly-formed high risk department, once again building its success. Steve was promoted to director over these two areas in 2007, and he was promoted to assistant vice president in 2012.

Prior to joining Safeguard, Steve spent 10 years within the insurance industry, holding a number of positions including multi-line property adjuster, branch claims supervisor, and multi-line and subrogation/litigation supervisor. Steve is a graduate of Grove City College.

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AVP, Operations

Jennifer Jozity

Jennifer Jozity is the assistant vice president of operations, overseeing inspections, REO and property preservation for Safeguard. Jen ensures quality work is performed in the field and internally, to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations. Jen has demonstrated the ability to deliver consistent results in order audit and order management.  She will build upon these strengths in order to deliver this level of excellence in both REO and property preservation operations.

Jen joined Safeguard in 1997 and was promoted to director of inspections operations in 2009 and assistant vice president of inspections operations in 2012.

She graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in business.

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AVP, Finance

Jennifer Anspach

Jennifer Anspach is the assistant vice president of finance for Safeguard. She is responsible for the company’s national workforce of approximately 1,000 employees. She manages recruitment strategies, employee relations, training, personnel policies, retention, payroll and benefits programs. Additionally, Jennifer has oversight of the accounts receivable and loss functions formerly within the accounting department.

Jennifer joined the company in April 2009 as a manager of accounting and finance and a year later was promoted to director. She was named AVP of human capital in 2014. Prior to joining Safeguard, she held several management positions at OfficeMax and InkStop in both operations and finance.

Jennifer is a graduate of Youngstown State University. She was named a Crain’s Cleveland Business Archer Award finalist for HR Executive of the Year in 2017.

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AVP, Application Architecture

Rick Moran

Rick Moran is the assistant vice president of application architecture for Safeguard. Rick is responsible for evolving the Safeguard IT systems. He leads the design of Safeguard’s enterprise application architecture. This includes Safeguard’s real-time integration with other systems, vendors and clients; the future upgrade roadmap for systems; and standards designed to meet availability, security, performance and goals.

Rick has been with Safeguard since 2011. During that time, he has led the system upgrades necessary to support Safeguard’s growth. In addition, Rick’s team has designed and implemented several innovative systems.

Prior to joining Safeguard, Rick was director of enterprise architecture at Revol Wireless, a privately held CDMA Wireless provider in Ohio and Indiana, and operated his own consulting firm providing services to the manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy sectors.

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AVP, Technology Infrastructure and Cloud Services

Steve Machovina

Steve Machovina is the assistant vice president of technology infrastructure and cloud services for Safeguard. He is responsible for the overall management and design of Safeguard’s hybrid cloud infrastructure. He manages all technology engineering staff who support data centers, telecommunications, network, servers, storage, service monitoring, and disaster recovery.

Steve joined Safeguard in November 2013 as director of information technology operations.

Prior to joining Safeguard, Steve was vice president of information technology at Revol Wireless, a privately held wireless provider in Ohio and Indiana. He also held management positions with Northcoast PCS and Corecomm Communications, and spent nine years as a Coast Guard officer and pilot.

Steve holds a BBA in management information systems from Kent State University in Ohio and an MBA from Wayne State University in Michigan.

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Assistant Vice president of Application Development

Steve Goberish

Steve Goberish, is the assistant vice president of application development for Safeguard. He is responsible for the maintenance and evolution of Safeguard’s vendor systems ensuring high-availability, security and scalability while advancing the vendor products’ capabilities and enhancing the vendor experience.

Prior to joining Safeguard, Steve was a senior technical architect and development manager at First American Title Insurance, a publicly held title insurance provider based in southern California, in addition to managing and developing applications in multiple sectors from insurance to VOIP.

Steve has a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University in Ohio.