HONOLULU–Credit unions branches across the Hawaiian islands are closed today as residents hunker down under Hurricane Lane.
Hurricane Lane hit Hawaii's Big Island with torrential rain beginning on Thursday, triggering flooding and landslides, and is now moving across the more densely populated islands, including Oahu.
"Be prepared to shelter in place with 14 days of food supplies and water and any other necessities," Hawaii Gov. David Ige said during a news conference prior to the arrival of the storm.
In its approach to the Hawaiian islands the storm at one point was rated a Category 5, but its intensity has since waned some.
The state’s many credit unions have announced branch closures on their websites. Noting its closures, HawaiiUSA FCU stated, “The safety and wellbeing of our members and employees are a priority, and we hope for minimal impact by the storm.”
A spokesperson for the Hawaii Credit Union League said the league was urging credit unions to get their disaster relief plans in place and to follow them.
The league said it is a member of HawaiiFIRST For Continuity, a financial industry business continuity planning coalition, comprised of volunteers. That organization seeks to:
- Address Homeland Security issues effecting the financial industry in Hawaii
- Develop and maintain relationships with city, county, state and federal Agencies, as well as with private industries that have an impact on business continuity
- Enhance the financial industry’s capability to respond to and recover from disastrous situations
The HCUL added that next week it will be reaching out to member credit unions to determine what assistance, if any, they and their members might need.
CUToday.info will have ongoing coverage of the storm’s effects on credit unions in the islands.
As CUToday.info reported here, Kauai Government Employees FCU in May went far above the call of duty to assist its communities, which were hit hard by heavy rains and flooding.