IRONDALE, Ala.–Two employees of Corporate America Credit Union here have been traveling through the panhandle of Florida working to help members and credit unions hit hard by Hurricane Michael.
CACU reported it has also created a special loan program for credit unions as they work to meet their members’ ongoing needs in their communities.
The two CACU employees, Gisli Magnusson and Tanya DeVlieger, both of whom live in Florida, have been staying in touch with credit unions and working to meet the needs of their staff and have made numerous trips back and forth to provide assistance.
Magnusson and DeVlieger traveled to Panama City, Fla., and the surrounding areas soon after the storm hit in a joint relief effort with the Southeast Disaster Coordinating Council, taking with them a loaded U-Haul with numerous items, including generators, gas cans, blankets, flashlights, batteries, clothes, toiletries, water and tarps.
‘Complete Devastation’
“The pictures and videos you see on the news and social media truly can’t describe the magnitude of the destruction,” Magnusson said. “Complete devastation. Cars turned on their sides, a train blown off the track and overturned, trees snapped in half and electrical poles and wires lying in the streets.”
Corporate America said the team wasn’t prepared for the scenes in and around the credit unions they visit so often. DeVlieger said the scene at one credit union in particular was memorable.
“The building at Bay Credit Union had flooded during the storm so when we walked on the carpet, water gushed under our feet. I don’t think there was one ceiling tile that was intact; security cameras were hanging from the rafters by wires,” DeVlieger said. “Drive-thru units were gone. They were blown off the drive-thru islands and just gone, who knows where... Everywhere you looked there was destruction–business signs blown over, roofs demolished, insulation scattered like popcorn in the wind.”
Six Credit Unions Visited
Corporate America reported that over a one-week period Magnusson and DeVlieger visited Tyndall FCU, Bay CU, Innovations FCU, Panhandle Educators FCU, Calhoun Liberty Employees CU and Emerald Coast FCU to deliver supplies and visit with staff to determine what else could be done to help.
“I am proud to have been able to play a small part in this effort,” said Magnusson. “Working alongside the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, other credit unions and other corporate credit unions, we were there for one purpose - to help our fellow credit unions so they could continue to serve.”
Both DeVlieger and Magnusson noted it could be years before the area recovers
“It never feels like we can do enough. My heart aches for these communities and our credit union family. It is a long hard day driving over and delivering supplies, but it pales in comparison to what those impacted are going through. I’ll gladly do it again and again as long as it’s needed.”
CACU reported it is now making monetary donations directly to credit unions whose staff members have been personally affected by the storm. The Southeastern Credit Union Foundation is also accepting donations to help credit unions, staff, and board members in need here, while donations can be made to the NCUF’s CUAid program here.