PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Water from Hurricane Katrina so flooded the offices of Jackson County Federal Employees FCU, the president of the tiny community development credit union was forced to satisfy cash withdrawals from needy members from the back of her SUV behind the damaged building.
Next Tuesday, the $3.3 million credit union will mark its 48th anniversary with the dedication of a new office at the same site. The new, 1,800-square foot branch will serve the credit union’s 660 members, among them employees of the U.S. Post Office and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.
Throughout the 30-month rebuilding, the tiny CDCU had lots of help from other credit unions. Immediately following the massive storm, nearby Singer River FCU and Singing River Hospital Systems CU allowed Jackson County members to use their drive-thru windows; and Keesler FCU lent it a trailer to serve as a temporary branch. Two out-of-state credit unions, Colorado’s Bellco CU and New York’s Bethpage FCU, adopted the tiny credit union and donated much-needed office supplies.
