The Louisiana Credit Union League said Monday the homes of up to 200 credit union employees have been damaged by the worst floods ever recorded in the state.
“The 200 figure is a preliminary one and it is probably a low figure,” Connie Major, EVP and CFO for the Louisiana league, said. “Credit unions are still trying to get their arms around how many of their employees have been affected. There are a couple of credit unions that we still have not received a list from on the number of employees affected and whether their homes have been damaged by the flood.”
From Aug. 8 to Aug. 14, more than 2.5 feet of rain deluged parts of the state in what the American Red Cross called the worst U.S. disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. About 13 people died in the flood and more than 60,000 homes were damaged, according to national media reports.
During the first few days of the natural disaster, some credit union employees were housed in board rooms because they had no place to go.
“They were sheltering some employees through the disaster time, but now that shelters have opened up some employees may have gone there, while some employees may have been able to get with family members now that the water has receded in most of the places,” Major said.
Five credit unions – the $280 million Baton Rouge Telco Federal Credit Union, the $47.8 million BRECO Federal Credit Union, the $343 million EFCU Financial, the $399 million Jefferson Financial Credit Union and the $197 million Lafayette Schools Credit Union – still had seven branches closed on Tuesday, according to the Louisiana league.
“You can drive down the highways of Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes and it looks normal, but behind the scenes in the neighborhoods it is anything but normal,” Major said.
Over the weekend, she helped clean up a cousin’s house.
“We saw their neighborhood and it’s just devastating,” Major said. “When you drive in you can hardly make it through because of all of the stuff that is piled on either side of the roads.”
President Barack Obama who toured the flood ravaged areas in Louisiana Tuesday said more than 100,000 people have applied for federal aid and more than $120 million has been approved. Many people did not have flood insurance, Reuters reported.
How much will be needed to help residents has not been determined and Congress may have to approve more aid, Obama said, according to Reuters.
The National Credit Union Foundation reported Monday that more than $53,000 has been raised so far to help flood victims.
In addition, the Louisiana league launched a social media challenge campaign Friday to raise funds. Several credit unions and other organizations have contributed thousands of dollars since the social media initative began.
To participate in the Louisiana CU Strong Challenge, credit unions throughout the state and nationally are welcome to post a video or photo along with their official challenge using the hashtag #LACUStrong. They should make sure to email the video/photo to Lacey Hyer, lhyer@lcul.com, the Louisiana league’s vice president of communications and public relations, along with the main contact for the challenge.
Leagues, CUSOs, vendors and other credit union supporters are also welcome to participate in the social media challenge.
Anyone can challenge a specific credit union or just make a general call out. Every credit union that makes a donation will receive signs for their branches letting their members know that they’ve donated to the Louisiana CU Foundation to help flood victims.
The credit union that makes the largest donation in each asset category among Louisiana credit unions will be awarded a free lunch hosted by the league, along with bragging rights. Louisiana credit unions that donate more than $1,000 will receive a free registration for a league webinar of their choice. In addition, Louisiana credit unions that donate to the foundation through the challenge will receive a special sweet treat delivered by a league team member, and all donors will receive recognition in league publications.
