Texas CUs Wait And See On HurricaneKatrina

BEAUMONT, Texas - (09/26/05) – Dozens of credit unions werewithout power and communications over the weekend, the result ofHurricane Rita, which battered the state’s Gulf Coast Fridayand Saturday. But officials, still waiting to assess the damage,were confident last week’s mass evacuation as the stormapproached succeeded in saving lives and limiting damage. “Wewere prepared for everything we could have been preparedfor,” Dick Ensweiler, president of the Texas CU League, toldThe Credit Union Journal Sunday. “The difference between Ritaand Katrina is people left the area, limiting loss of life.”Ensweiler said the Texas league will be working with CUNA, NCUA andlocal credit unions to determine the extent of Rita’s damageto both credit unions and their members. Ensweiler said he expectsthe most damage will be in the state’s so-called GoldenTriangle along the Gulf Coast, the cities of Port Arthur, Orangeand Beaumont, where at least 30 credit unions and dozens morebranches are located.