CUs Assess Hurricane Damage

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - (08/31/05) -- With a number of credit unions andleagues along the Gulf Coast still reeling from the devastationfrom Hurricane Katrina, damage reports are only just beginning totrickle in. In Alabama, the league is still trying to contactapproximately 30 of the 50 credit unions near Mobile Bay todetermine how they fared, according to Will McCarty,VP-governmental and public affairs and staff counsel. "We'recalling as many credit unions as we can, and most are reportingthat they are fine. There's some water damage and some roof damage,but so far, we haven't heard anything catastrophic." One of themost vulnerable CUs, Docks & Terminal CU, which serves workersat the port in Mobile Bay, had some flood damage and is currentlyoperating out of Azalea City CU. Even though there is only a smallportion of the state along the Gulf Coast, McCarty explained thateven midway up the Western side of the state, as far north asTuscaloosa, felt the effects of the storm. "More than half thestate is without power, and we have someone in Tuscaloosa who isactually driving around in her car to find out how credit unionsare doing because the phones aren't working," he told The CreditUnion Journal. Calls to Mississippi CU Association and theLouisiana CU League weren't returned at press time.