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Preparation Can Help Credit Unions Avoid ‘Disaster Within a Disaster’
Phil Tschudy
608/665-7188
philip.tschudy@cunamutual.com
Rick Uhlmann
608/665-8940
rick.uhlmann@cunamutual.com
CUNA Mutual Group Marks FEMA National Preparedness Month By Sharing Lessons Learned
MADISON, Wis. – Year after year, CUNA Mutual Group’s claims specialists and Disaster Response Team help credit unions prepare for and recover from catastrophic losses. During September, designated National Preparedness Month by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the insurer is seeking to help credit unions avoid a “disaster within a disaster” by sharing three lessons gleaned from those that have handled disasters better than others.
Review and update your insurance coverage, including extra expense coverage, said John Wallace, CUNA Mutual Group vice president of Commercial Products. “Understand what your insurance does and doesn’t cover. If your policy doesn’t provide 100 percent replacement value for property, be sure the credit union is prepared for the co-pay. Also, take into account any property improvements made since the last time you updated your policy limits.”
Wallace also advises looking closely at coverage limits for extra expenses involved in providing member service during disaster recovery. It’s difficult to over-estimate what it will cost to run a credit union when a branch or main office has been damaged or destroyed. Having adequate “Extra Expense” and other coverage limits for buildings, business personal property, and data processing can be the major factor in how quickly and completely a credit union can recover from severe damage and the indirect losses.
Next, practice your disaster response plan, Wallace said. The NCUA requires credit unions to have a written plan for disaster recovery, but if employees have never seen and practiced implementing the plan, chances are it won’t work when disaster strikes.
“Having all employees read through and practice the plan helps you find bugs and work them out. And it’s important for all employees to be aware of the plan because, in an emergency, any one of them may end up having to make quick, important decisions,” he said.
Finally, credit unions should set up an emergency communications procedure. “When a disaster occurs and your insurance provider has been informed, your top priority should be communicating with employees to see who’s available, who needs help, and to share the plan for restoring service.”
Employees must have an idea how to get in touch with the credit union in these situations. Every employee should have a “cheat sheet” with them or at home detailing first steps to take. The cheat sheet should provide alternate locations designated for temporary branch service and include phone numbers and emails to use if phones or Internet service are available.
If phone or Internet service is unreliable, add “phone trees” to employees’ cheat sheets that include the names and contact information of several other employees. Instruct employees to call each person on their list—they may get through to one co-worker who in turn has found someone else, and so on. “Word about who’s available, who might need assistance, and what to do next can spread surprisingly fast this way,” Wallace said.
Also consider setting up an agreement with your state league to provide a toll-free number for employees to call in a disaster situation.
CUNA Mutual Group provides resources to assist with disaster preparedness at www.cunamutual.com/pbl. The page includes links to:
- An Extra Expense calculator to help determine whether your credit union is adequately insured
- Disaster preparedness risk assessment tool
- Property and Business Liability product sheet
- Information on CUNA Mutual’s Disaster Response Team and
- U.S. Government disaster preparedness websites.
Additional information for policyholders can also be found in CUNA Mutual Group’s online Protection Resource Center.
CUNA Mutual Group insurance, retirement and investment products provide financial security and protection to credit unions and their members worldwide. With more than 75 years of true market commitment, CUNA Mutual Group’s vision is unwavering: To be a trusted business partner who delivers service excellence through customer-focused products and market-driven insight. More information on the company is available on the company’s website at www.cunamutual.com.
CUNA Mutual Group is the marketing name for CUNA Mutual Holding Company, a mutual insurance holding company, its subsidiaries and affiliates. Life, accident, health and annuity insurance products are issued by CMFG Life Insurance Company. Property and casualty insurance products are issued by CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc. Each insurer is solely responsible for the financial obligations under the policies and contracts it issues. Corporate headquarters are located in Madison, Wisconsin.