Disaster recovery

From power outages to branch closures and even homeless kangaroos, rampant wildfires have presented credit unions in Australia with challenges they've rarely seen before.

Northern California utility company PG&E recently shut off power to more than 2 million consumers, meaning some insitutions had to move quickly to minimize the outages' impact on operations.

The organization is looking to raise $100,000, which will be used to support in credit unions abroad in the wake of a natural disaster.

A $19.1 billion aid package signed into law earlier this month is welcome news for credit unions in Nebraska and a host of other regions that have suffered from recent natural disasters.

As part of the continuing rebuilding effort in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Banco Popular's nonprofit foundation has several startups working out of its main location in San Juan. For Camille Burckhart, it is part of a mission to help the island get back to normal.

The latest World Council of Credit Unions project in the Caribbean will see the island nation working alongside Indiana CUs to share best practices, strategic initiatives and more.

Rising waters in the Cornhusker State have already caused in excess of $1 billion in damages.

Brett Martinez, president and CEO of a Redwood Credit Union, has become an expert in disaster preparedness after wildfires ravaged the California communities he serves. Those efforts have earned him an Anchor Award.

Many credit unions have resumed normal operations, but some institutions locations in nearby Eagle River, closer to the epicenter, need more recovery time.

Most CUs in the Anchorage area were closed Friday as residents and officials evaluated damage to facilities and infrastructure.