HOUSTON - Larry Hudson, president and CEO of PrimeWay FCU here, recalls when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita battered the southeast U.S. two years ago, and how the credit union and all of its facilities and staff fortunately got by unscathed.
“We were lucky,” Hudson recalled, pointing to the large number of people who traveled to Houston from areas devastated by the storms. “A lot of people decided to stay in Houston, much of that due to our strong economy.”
Today, the $234-million PrimeWay’s membership certainly increased as a result of the hurricanes, Hudson said, knowing the CU helped many new members get a fresh start financially.
“It’s not something I personally was able to track, but I know our front-line staff could tell you stories about how we made a difference.”
Hudson understands the decisions to put a new stake in the ground were difficult for individuals who had to “come to grips” with deciding whether they had anything to return home for. “They had to consider if they had a place to live or a job . . . that determined a lot if people stayed or left Houston.”
Before people were making those hard choices, in the aftermath of the storms, PrimeWay moved quickly to help CU colleagues in Texas coastal cities.
PrimeWay’s mobile branch, a 40-foot “RV-type vehicle” with two teller windows, two MSR stations, and two ATMs served as backup headquarters for credit unions whose facilities were badly damaged. Mobile Oil FCU in Beaumont and FivePoint FCU in Nederland were the hardest hit.
“We set it up in parking lots and the credit unions sent word to their members who were able to use some services, get money, and cash checks,” Hudson said.
PrimeWay also assisted local shelters and charitable organizations, providing food, money, and volunteers.
“It was a very difficult time,” Hudson said. “And we were glad we were in a position to help. That’s what credit unions do.”
