JACKSON, Tenn. -
At presstime, the Tennessee CU League said there were no reports of damage to credit unions, but added that it was still in the process of calling credit unions in the hardest hit areas like Jackson.
The town of 60,000 located about halfway between Nashville and Memphis along the I-40 corridor sustained heavy damage to Union University with several buildings destroyed or collapsed.
The manager of the $55-million American Savings CU’s branch here reported no structural damage to the credit union, but said an official inspection of the structure had not taken place yet.
“I’m not certain if any members or employees have been affected yet,” she told Credit Union Journal. “Not many members have been in today so it’s hard to tell.”
Vickie Eads, a branch manager at the $1.4-million Porter Cable Employees CU, said the facility suffered no damage even though they were located only 10 miles from where most of the destruction took place on the other side of town.
The $9.1-million P. and G. Jackson Employees CU faired very well according to Branch Manager Karen Jordan. “We did get hit in 2003 and had to move out of the facility for 13 months, but we did fine. We were real fortunate this time,” she said.
The $28.4-million Patriot Equity Credit Union came through the storms unscathed. “We are fine here,” said Sara F. Hall, general manager. “It seems that the damage was very concentrated and focused on other areas of town.”
Patriot Equity lies only a few miles from the devastated Union University here.
In Mississippi where dozens of twister-related injuries were reported, only one credit union, the $10.2-million Elevator CU in Olive Branch, reported damage from the storm according to Amy Manley corporate relations manager for the Mississippi Credit Union Association. “The credit union did not sustain any physical damage; however the storm did affect some of their power and communication lines, which are in the process of being repaired.” Manley reported, noting they were expected to be up and running at full capacity within just a few hours.
And in Alabama, where four people were reported killed, no credit unions were reported damaged, according to Adena Whitman-Zamora, director, public and political affairs at the Alabama Credit Union League.
