For credit unions in the path of Hurricane Michael the first step toward recovery will be regaining power, according to Scott Teel, vice president of organizational development at Agility Recovery, a CUNA Strategic Services provider.

Teel said Agility Recovery is working with about 40 credit unions in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as they prepare for Hurricane Michael.  

The first task at hand is determining those what credit unions’ power requirements will be needed to stay up in running, or put another way, what size generator credit union will need to power their branches. 

“This might require a conversation with an electrician,” Teel said. “It doesn’t take long. It’s not very complex. It requires maybe a half a dozen questions, but it ensures we have those assets on standby in the area,” Teel said. 

Agility Recovery’s model calls for setting up those assets just outside the storm’s path, Teel said. “We have to make sure our inventory matches the need,” Teel said. 

“Sometimes credit unions provide us with the information ahead of time,” Teel said. “Sometimes we end up doing it on the fly—not our preference.” 

Another provider, CO-OP Financial Services, is working in conjunction with the League of Southeastern Credit Unions and Affiliates to provide credit union and branch updates to credit unions in Alabama and Florida. 

“We are also working with our clients to make known to their members the services available to them through the CO-OP ATM and CO-OP Shared Branch networks--and how to locate a machine or branch in the event any members are displaced from their homes,”  CO-OP Financial Services Director of Public Relations.