MEDFORD, Ore.–A half-dozen employees of one credit union in Oregon have lost their homes due to wildfires as credit unions and communities across the Pacific Northwest and Northern California continue to battle ever-growing blazes.
Gene Pelham, CEO of Rogue Credit Union in Southern Oregon, which is located just north of the Almeda Fire and which has claimed more than 1,000 homes and apartments, said six employees of the credit union are among those who have lost their homes. Numerous other wildfires are also burning across the state which has seen unusually dry conditions and extremely high winds.
Pelham said employees have also been through multiple evacuations.
“I continue to be humbled by how our team has stood up for our members and their communities,” Pelham told CUToday.info.
Pelham said while some areas of the country have unfortunately become accustomed to wildfires they remain relatively rare in the markets served by Rogue Credit Union in the Rogue Valley. He said the impact of the fires on both employees, members and the community has been “huge.” He said the credit union has joined with the community to “fight back.”
While none of Rogue Credit Union’s branches have been damaged, two have had to close due to evacuation orders and because the routes to and from the branches were largely impassable. What was typically a half-hour commute in one case, he said, has been taking two and a half hours.
Communication lines have also been cut, Pelham added. The credit union’s administrative center has also been in an evacuation area, and Pelham said the danger is still “very present.”
‘Amazing Staff’
“It’s been amazing that our staff have been evacuated and then they come back to work,” he told CUToday.info.
Pelham said the credit union’s emergency response team has been meeting daily to assess the various risks being faced.
For members, Pelham said Rogue CU has offered payment deferments on loans, including mortgage, with all that is required being a request by the member.
The Rogue Credit Union Foundation has also established a donation portal with the credit union matching up to $50,000 in funds raised. In less than 24 hours Pelham said $38,000 had been donated.
Pelham said the credit union already had in place a Help Employees At Rough Times (HEART) fund in place that is well-funded and providing assistance to its staff affected by the fires.
Pelham, who praised law enforcement and first responders for their efforts, noted Rogue Credit Union may not be the “most experienced” in responding to such a catastrophe but it has been learning while also working with other credit unions on its response.
Elsewhere in Oregon:
- OnPoint Community Credit Union has donated $50,000 to the local Red Cross to support those affected by the fires, and said it is also covering food and temporary shelter expenses for any employee who is ordered to evacuate their home
- Pacific Cascade FCU in Lane County said it has temporary closed its Santa Clara branch
- In Santa Rosa, Calif., the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund (RCUCF) has opened a 2020 Fire Relief Fund to assist those who lost homes due to the recent fires, and to prepare to help its communities should more fires happen this year. The credit union noted 100% of the tax-deductible donations will be distributed directly to fire survivors—beginning with those who lost their primary residence in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, and Lake counties—and through nonprofit organizations. There will be no overhead costs from RCUCF, the credit union said.