Hurricane season – Is your credit union BCP ready?

by. Robin Remines

I heard the other day that although 2013 was forecast to be an “active” hurricane season that it was actually quite the opposite. There were fewer named storms than expected. As I pondered over what 2014 might bring, the proverbial light bulb went off – what does the quantity of storms have to do with hurricane preparations? In my humble opinion, not much – ONE STORM is all it takes. ONE STORM can kill thousands. ONE STORM can disrupt your credit union operations for months. Is your credit union BCP program ready?

First: Expect the unexpected.

It’s true you may hear about an approaching storm 5-10 days before the actual event. But any meteorologist will tell you that storms can have unexpected changes in direction, strength and intensity. This is why some people fail to heed warnings as nothing more than “crying wolf”. As a credit union leader, your role is to prepare “as if” and that means making decisions that will ensure the safety of your staff/member and ensure minimal disruption of services – regardless of what the weatherman says. So if a storm is coming, get your plan in gear.

Second: Most people think high winds cause the most damage in a hurricane. The truth is the most destructive part of a hurricane is the storm surge.  And due to the size of these storms and the possibility of the stalling over land, flash flooding is a real risk for 100′s of miles inland. So just because your credit union isn’t oceanfront doesn’t mean you are safe! Reach out to your local emergency management center to learn about your area’s flood zones and any historical data on hurricane damage. Hurricane Camille is a great example of this type of hurricane threat. Camille targeted Mississippi/Louisiana and was accountable for 256 people. Nearly 1/2 of those deaths were in the state of Virginia, not Mississippi/Louisiana. Flash flooding caused massive destruction and deaths far north of the target area.

Third:  Early preparation is a key to protecting your credit union during and after a hurricane. You’ve all seen the long lines for water and toilet paper the night before the storm hits right? In our next post, we will share what a credit union hurricane preparedness kit should contain. Will you need alternate meeting space for you and your leadership team? Have you considered that employees could be displaced?  Learn more about how you can prepare personally for hurricane season at www.ready.gov/hurricanes.”