PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.–With Hurricane Dorian approaching Florida, one credit union here will become home to portions of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Department.
The exact storm track of the hurricane is still unknown but is expected to begin hitting Florida’s central east coast by Sunday. Charlotte County is located on Florida’s west coast but is in the path of the current track for the storm as it passes over the state. The $6.5-billion Lake Michigan Credit Union is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., but has an office in Florida following a 2018 acquisition Encore Bank.
LMCU has reached an agreement with the sheriff for its office for District 3, in which the credit union is located. The sheriff’s District 3 office is not rated for a hurricane, while the CU’s office is. The LMCU office is also elevated above the roadway and has an emergency generator, according to a Facebook post by the Sheriff’s office, which said it approached the credit union about being a “community partner.”
Lake Michigan Credit Union said it will supply law enforcement with water, showers and a place to shelter during the worst of the storm.
‘Serving the County’
In the post, Branch Manager Jody Innis said the credit union is "all about serving the county and doing what they can to help."
Law enforcement personnel will be housed on the second floor of the building, which includes a kitchen, locker room, bathroom and shower.