By Susan Mitchell, Mitchell, Stankovic & Associates

This past July, credit unions from around the world converged on the Bahamas for the World Council of Credit Unions (WCUC) with record attendance. Our time together in the Bahamas was an experience we will remember for a lifetime. We also had the opportunity to speak directly with Brian Branch, CEO of WOCCU, as he shared the impact credit unions have worldwide to build communities and members’ lives. 

I had the honor of leading a session during WCUC regarding how credit unions respond to social disaster. None of us imagined that within a short period of time there would such devastating news coming out of the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian. The official death toll is up to 50, but 1,300 more are missing. The storm was powerful and long lasting, bearing down on the beautiful chain of islands with wind gusts up to 220 mph and dumping three feet of rain and practically leveling the Abaco Grand Bahama Islands.

Donate to Project Storm Break here!

A few days ago, Brian Branch shared with me that the U.S. Coast Guard had rescued 300 people from the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco, while CNN reports cruise ships on humanitarian missions picked up thousands of other hurricane survivors from Freeport Harbour on Grand Bahama.

Sadly, at least 70,000 people remained stranded and homeless, with several communities on both islands still isolated by floodwaters and debris. People are without water, food and shelter, not to mention the infrastructure that’s been lost. The best way to help in a situation like this – and credit unions have their own whirlwind of efforts going now – is cash. The World Council of Credit Unions was able to help credit unions take action immediately through Project Storm Break. Credit unions’ long-term donations to the Worldwide Foundation and ongoing engagement make it possible to help get the financial infrastructure up and running, supporting the employees and community. I sincerely thank all of you for being part of the credit union system – as we are one family around the world.   

Much of the damage to Bahamian credit unions came on Grand Bahama. Most have yet to reopen, but The Grand Bahama Co-Operative Credit Union (GBCCU)—the only credit union based on Grand Bahama—reopened its Freeport location with limited hours as of Sept. 5. They have been servicing members needs every day since. 

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions and the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) sent immediate relief funds from Project Storm Break to help credit unions damaged by Hurricane Dorian get back on their feet to assist members.

Tallahassee-Leon FCU CEO Lisa Brown donated the funds that put Project Store Break over $100,000!

GBCCU Operations Supervisor Kimberly Russell explained to World Council that the credit union had a contingency plan that allowed it to reopen despite damage to their main branch and that several staff members lost their homes. She shared that GBCCU members have been appreciative to be able to access cash withdrawals so soon after the hurricane while other financial institutions have yet to open. This has allowed members to purchase groceries, emergency supplies and gasoline for their vehicles and generators. 

Interested in learning best practices for Social Disaster Recovery? Download the Underground White Paper! Just click here and scroll down to the Doing the Right Thing section.

Project Storm Break continues to be open and active to receive financial donations to support both the immediate needs of credit union members and staff, as well as to address long-term rebuilding needs in The Bahamas. Donations can be made directly on the World Council’s Project Storm Break page. World Council will continue to provide us with updates on recovery and restoration efforts in The Bahamas as new information becomes available.

The resolve of credit union leaders and their members is breath taking. As I mentioned earlier, we could not imagine the Bahamas would be hit with a natural disaster like this right after I led a panel on social disaster recovery during the World Credit Union Conference, but there we were, talking with leaders from credit unions around the globe about how they’re not just saving credit union members’ money and employing people, but saving lives. This is what we can do right now. Activate the passion!

During that panel at the WCUC, I encouraged credit unions to act locally and globally. If we can identify our own purpose, understand the needs within society, ask the tough questions, stand up during the crisis, be known! Even as I write this shortly after the 18^thanniversary of 9/11 and recall what credit unions did to get back online and serve their members here in the United States – it’s astonishing. Our disaster recovery plans are required by the regulator agencies, but we must have social disaster recovery as part of that. Do we activate a phone tree system and social media to communicate openings and service? Do we open parts of our branches for the community to gather – weathering the storm or meeting up with loved ones they can’t get hold of while phone lines are tied up? Can we extend our employee assistance programs temporarily to everyone who needs it? What can we do beyond the rote financial services?

Our Underground colleagues from around the world are having a real impact, like Elenita San Roque, CEO of the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions, who discussed how her organization has helped get credit unions back to serving members after devastating tsunamis. Redwood Credit Union CEO Brett Martinez shared how his credit union came to the aid of employees and members following the historic wildfires in California. George Ombado, CEO of the African Confederation of Co-operative Saving and Credit Association, is literally helping to save lives through credit unions’ work. And Manfred Dasenbrock, chairman of SICREDI, has championed diversity through credit unions in his home country of Brazil. Amazing individuals rallying others toward a common cause in a way only cooperatives and credit unions can!

As a parting thought, I want to share with you the words of LA Financial CU Supervisory Committee Chair Gail Legros in response to the World Council’s update: Thanks so much for the update. I cannot stop thinking about and praying for all the incredible people in the Bahamas and what they have gone through. God bless the World Council and the support they have given.