DENVER—Some credit union employees have been forced to evacuate from their homes as the result of out of control wildfires raging in this state.
Dan Santangelo, SVP of association services with the Mountain West Credit Union Association executive director of the Mountain West CU Foundation, told Credit Union Journal that in addition to the employees, credit union members are among those being evacuated from their homes as a result of the fire that has so far destroyed 360 homes and forced 40,000 people to be evacuated. As of this morning, he said, the fire was about 5% contained, though no one has given any indication yet of when it might be fully contained.
"We are standing by to get a better understanding of what sort of needs credit unions and their members might have," he said. "Once we have a better understanding of that, we could open up a disaster recovery fund through our foundation, or we may as the National Foundation to assist us with CUAid. But those decisions are left to the (National Credit Union Foundation), and we're keeping them abreast of that information at this point in the game."
As of Thursday night, June 13, Santangelo said he had not received reports of damages to branches or other CU facilities.
Some CUs are gearing up to offer assistance to any members affected by the fires. Ent FCU in Colorado Springs is planning to offer payment deferrals for those who need it, as well as a 0% emergency loan program, said Santangelo. Other CUs may also roll out their own assistance programs.
