Insurance
Updated 12/14 On December 12, the office of New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo released an update entitled Governor Cuomo Announces Banks and Mortgage Servicers to Expedite Insurance Payments to Homeowners.
Updated 11/14 During the second week of November, several law firms released alerts pertaining to legal and insurance aspects of Hurricane Sandy. Please click here for more information.
Updated 11/7 A recent article from PropertyCasualty360.com discusses concerns from insurance companies and their trade groups regarding the decision of several jurisdictions to tell insurers they cannot impose hurricane deductibles for losses suffered from Superstorm Sandy.
In addition to the recent rulings in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York (links below), the following states have issued similar rulings pertaining to insurance deductibles in the wake of Sandy.
***Please note the one exception is North Carolina that has officially listed the storm as a Hurricane due to its status as a “named-storm.”
The insurance commissioners in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York have issued rulings pertaining to insurance deductibles in the wake of Sandy. These new rulings provide tremendous savings to effected policy holders.
In New York, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that insurers have been instructed to accept homeowners’ documentation, including photos and video, of losses so residents can discard debris before a second storm hits the region. This is a change in common practice as typically, insurance companies require an on-site inspection first before a claim can be processed. Additionally, the State has imposed a 30-day moratorium on cancelling or terminating homeowners’ and small business owners’ insurance policies in storm stricken areas for any reason, including non-payment of premiums.
For additional information, please click here.
** NEW ** Media Coverage
Damage Assessments
- Updated 11/26 Please click here for a sampling of aerial photos taken by our Hurricane Sandy field representative.
- Updated 11/19 Post Hurricane Sandy Municipal Assessment for Ortley, Chadwick Beaches, NJ
- Updated 11/19 Aerial Damage Assessments Provided for More than 140 New Jersey Municipalities
- Updated 11/14 We have categorized a list of zip codes based on light, moderate, or severe levels of damage taken directly from our initial vendor assessments. Please click the following link and note there are three tabs.
Hurricane Sandy Levels of Severity Zip Code List
- Updated 11/14 We have received initial reports from our vendor network. Please click the following link for more information and note there are multiple tabs:
Hurricane Sandy Vendor Damage Assessments
- As of November 2, 2012, many areas affected by Hurricane Sandy remain inaccessible. Safeguard continues to compile this information from our vendor network. In the interim, please see the following link (seven tabs). While not indicating property damage, the content, courtesy of FedEx, shows the zip codes where FedEx service has been suspended or partially suspended due to the hurricane. As information pertaining to accessibility could potentially be beneficial regarding compliance with investor/insurer timeframes, we provide this information as a reference.
FedEx Suspended Service Areas
- Please click on the following link for a list of media reports of severely damaged areas:
Hurricane Sandy Media Reports
- In addition to the devastating property damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, as of November 1 many states continue to endure vast power outages, which could affect sump pump operability. An initial compilation of the areas affected is provided in the link below. Please note that at the time of publication, round-the-clock efforts are being made to restore power.
Power Outages
Hurricane Sandy Threatens Eastern Seaboard
According to an October 29 CNN News report, Hurricane Sandy is approaching the eastern seaboard and should make landfall in New Jersey by Monday night. The projected path starts on the coast of North Carolina continuing north all the way to Massachusetts. The massive storm will cause widespread flooding throughout the states involved, as well as major power outages and severe wind damage. Most states have issued early closing times for businesses and some have closed completely. Most government agencies in Sandy's path are closed to non-emergency personnel. Some areas have been or are being evacuated.
As of Monday morning, FEMA has issued emergency declarations for the following states:
- Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
On Tuesday, FEMA issued three additional emergency declarations:
- New Hampshire, Virginia, and West Virginia
Please note these areas have not yet been declared a Presidential Disaster Area. Please click here for additional information.
Safeguard Properties will continue to monitor this storm and will provide information on all FEMA Presidential Disaster Area Declarations and property damage as they become available. In the interim, a list of zip codes for coastal counties in the current projected path follows.
Hurricane Sandy Coastal Zip Codes
Hurricane Isaac Makes Landfall in Louisiana 8.29.12
On November 7, FEMA issued an update to a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Florida, adding Glades County for public assistance. Please click here for additional information on the newly-declared areas.
On October 18, FEMA issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Florida for public assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Please click here for additional information on the newly-delcared areas.
On October 17, Pointe Coupee Parish was added to the initial declaration for areas in Louisiana for individual assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Please click here for additional information on the newly-declared area.
On October 9, West Baton Rouge Parish was added to the initial declaration for areas in Louisiana for individual assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Please click here for additional information on the newly-declared area.
On October 3, five additional counties were added to the initial declaration for areas in Alabama for public assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Please click here for additional information on these newly-declared areas.
Between September 28 and October 1, FEMA issued an update to its August 29 Presidential Disaster Declarations for areas in Louisiana and Mississippi; several areas are now eligible for public and individual assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Please click here for additional information on these newly-declared areas.
On September 21, FEMA issued a Presidential Disaster Declaration for areas in Alabama for public assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Please click here for additional information on the newly-delcared areas.
On September 14, FEMA issued an update to the initial August 29 Presidential Disaster Declaration, following Hurricane Isaac. With these newest declarations, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana and West Feliciana Parishes are now eligible for individual assistance. Please click here for additional information on these newly-declared areas.
Hazard and Flood Insurance Requirement Reminder
The purpose of this Mortgagee Letter is to remind mortgagees of HUD’s existing servicing procedures as they pertain to releasing hazard insurance proceeds for damaged properties securing Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgage loans. At this time, a reminder of HUD’s policy related to hazard insurance proceeds is especially important due to the extent of the devastation caused by Hurricane Isaac in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. To view the Mortgagee Letter in its entirety, please click here.
Disaster Assistance Policies to Help Affected Homeowners
Servicers may suspend or reduce mortgage payments for up to 90 days for Fannie Mae borrowers within federally declared disaster areas under Fannie Mae's Special Relief Measures policy. After assessing the impact of the disaster on property condition or on the borrower's financial condition, servicers have additional loss mitigation flexibilities. Based on a case-by-case determination, these include an additional three months of forbearance, a loan modification, or another customized solution. Guidance is available on eFannieMae.com.
FHLMC Doing Business in Hurricane Isaac Affected Areas
On September 4, Freddie Mac issued an announcement entitled "Important Reminder for Doing Business in Areas Affected by Hurricane Isaac." For additional information, please click here.
On September 10, FEMA issued an update to the initial August 29 Presidential Disaster Declaration, following Hurricane Isaac. With these newest declarations, Adams, Amite, Clarke, Forrest, George, Hinds, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Warren, and Wilkinson Counties in Mississippi are now eligible for individual assistance. Please click here for additional information on these newly-declared areas.
Between September 6 and 7, FEMA issued an update to the initial August 29 Presidential Disaster Declaration, following Hurricane Isaac. With these newest declarations, Assumption, Iberville, St. Helena, St. James, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Washington Parishes in Louisiana are now eligible for individual assistance. Please click here for additional information on these newly-declared areas.
On September 4 and 5, FEMA issued an update to the initial August 29 Presidential Disaster Declaration, following Hurricane Isaac. With these newest declarations, St. Charles and Tangipahoa parishes in Louisiana are now eligible for individual assistance. Please click here for additional information on these newly-declared areas.
Between August 31 and September 4, FEMA issued an update to its August 29 Presidential Disaster Declarations for areas in Louisiana and Mississippi; several areas are now eligible for individual assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Please click here for additional information on these newly-declared areas.
On August 30, 2012, additional counties were added to the initial declaration for areas in Louisiana and Mississippi for public assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. To view an updated zip code list of the areas reported for public assistance, please click here.
On August 29, 2012, FEMA issued Presidential Disaster Declarations for areas in Louisiana and Mississippi for public assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac. To view an updated zip code list of the areas reported for public assistance, please click here.
On August 28, 2012, Hurricane Isaac made landfall in Louisiana with the initial reports indicating excessive flooding in Plaquemines Parrish (LA) and other coastal areas.
Please click on the following link for the zip codes for coastal parishes in Louisiana and for coastal counties in Mississippi.
Hurricane Isaac Coastal Zip Codes LA & MS
Tropical Storm Debby hits Florida 6.25.12
On June 25, Tropical Storm Debby took aim at Florida's panhandle. Several communities have experienced high winds and flooding. Currently FEMA has not issued any Presidential Disaster Declarations for these areas. We have our inspectors in the field assessing damages and will update as information becomes available.
In a recent news release Governor Rick Scott provided an update on the State’s response to Tropical Storm Debbie. While assessments are ongoing across the state, the press release references Franklin County as among the most hardest hit. We have added Franklin County to the zip codes to our ongoing assessments.
To view an updated zip code list of the areas reported as Individual Assistance, please click here.
To view an updated zip code list of the areas reported as Public Assistance, please click here.
To view a related media article, please click here.
Wildfires Spread Across Colorado 6.28.12
On June 26, officials reported wildfires spreading across communities causing severe property damage. Currently FEMA has not issued any Presidential Disaster Declarations for these areas. We have our inspectors in the field assessing damages and will update as information becomes available.
To view a related media article, please click here.
To view an updated zip code list of the areas reported as being affected, please click here.
For additional information regarding High Park Fire and Larimer County, please click here.
String of Tornadoes Sweeps Across the Midwest 4.16.12
On April 15, a string of storms producing high winds and tornadoes swept across several midwest states causing severe property damage. Some of the areas reporting damages include Thurman, IA; Wellington, KS; and Woodward, OK. Currently FEMA has not issued any Presidential Disaster Declarations for these areas. We have our inspectors in the field assessing damages and will update as information becomes available.
To view a zip code list of the areas reported as being affected, please click here.
For additional media-related information regarding storm damage, please see below:
Tornadoes Rip through Texas 4.12.12
On April 3, a mass of tornadoes passed through the Dallas and Fort Worth area. Several communities are reporting extensive property damage. Currently FEMA is in the process of assessing damages caused by the tornadoes. We have our inspectors in the field assessing the damages and will update as information becomes available.
As a follow-up to the recent tornadoes that swept through Texas on April 3, the Star-Telegram released an article entitled Tornado has Cost Arlington $700,000 so Far, discussing the damages.( 4.12.12)
The Star-Telegram released an article entitled In Arlington and Kennedale, Devastation is Mixed with Relief, discussing the areas most affected by the tornadoes.
To view a Zip Code list of the areas reported as being affected, please click here.
To view a map of the areas affected, please click here.
Midwest Storm System: March 2012 3.9.12
On March 2, a string of severe storms producing many tornadoes passed through several states in the Midwest and south causing extensive property damage. Some of the states hit hardest include Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina Ohio and Tennessee. Currently FEMA is in the process of assessing damages caused by this storm system. We have our inspectors in the field assessing the damage and will update as information becomes available.
FEMA Declarations:
Kentucky (3.7.12)
Indiana (3.9.12)
To view a zip code list of the areas reported to be affected, please click here. (Updated 3.9.12)
To view a related media article discussing the damages in Alabama, please click here.
To view a related media article discussing the damages in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia, please click here.
On February 29, a powerful storm system wreaked havock across the midwest. Numerous Media outlets have reported possible tornado touch downs in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Arkansas causing severe property damage. Currently FEMA has not made any declaration for these areas. We have our inspectors in the field assessing the damage and will update as information is available.
To view a zip code list of the areas reported to be affected, please click here. (Updated 3.1.12)
The Office of the Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency for areas affected by the recent storms. To view the press release, please click here. (3.1.12)
To view an article discussing the damages in Harrisburg, IL, please click here. (3.1.12)
To view a media related article as seen on foxnews.com, please click here.
To view a media related article as seen on cnn.com, please click here.
Southern Storms: January 2012
As a result the of the recent storm system that passed through the south, many states have begun the process of assessing damages. Safeguard is committed to keeping you up-to-date on the most current developments. Currently FEMA has not made any declarations. Please see below for media-related coverage and zip code lists of the affected areas.
Alabama
On January 23, foxnews.com released an article entitled 3 Dead in Alabama as Storms Pound south, Midwest, outlining damages caused by the storm.
Media reports indicated that several cities have been severely affected by the storm system. To view a zip code list of the individual cities reported to be affected, please click here. To view a zip code list of the counties reported to be affected, please click here.
Arkansas
On January 22, todaysthv.com released an article entitled Damage Reported Due to Severe Weather.
To view a zip code list of the counties reported to be affected, please click here.
Kentucky
On January 18, the courier-journal.com released an article entitled Louisville Region Cleans Up from 4 Tornadoes.
To view a zip code list of the counties affected, please click here. (1.25.12)
Tennessee
On January 23, wsmv.com released an article entitled Strong Storms Flood Roads, Knock Out Power.
To view a zip code list of the counties reported to be affected, please click here.
****Please note: Safeguard is in the process of sending our inspectors into the field to assess the damages. We will update this page once the information becomes available.*****
About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held field services company in the country. Located in Cleveland, Ohio and founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard has grown from a regional preservation company with a few employees and a handful of contractors performing services in the Midwest, to a national company with more than 1,600 employees. Safeguard is supported by a nationwide network of subcontractors able to perform any requested superintendence, preservation, and maintenance functions, as well as numerous ancillary services in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.