Texas CUs Recovering FromRita

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas - (09/30/05) -- Of 48 credit unions operating 66branches in south Texas that were hit by Hurricane Rita, 19 arefully operational, 12 are partially operational and nine arenon-operational, although several were expected to open Thursday.Eight have remained out of touch with authorities, according to theTexas CU Leaguue. Credit unions in Beaumont, Orange, Port Arthurand Jasper, Texas, are being told it could be up to four weeksbefore power is restored. The Texas league, meanwhile, said itfielded hundreds of calls on just Wednesday alone from credit unionmembers trying to get a status report on their credit unions.Meanwhile, Member Service Centers reported it is working toexpedite the addition of several affected credit unions to the MSCshared branching network to give their members access to more than1,800 shared branching locations.