ORLANDO, Fla. - As Alberto teetered between a tropical storm and hurricane heading toward Florida last week during CUNA's Future Forum, three credit unions that survived Katrina last year said their new plans were already put into effect. The breakout session was eerily timely as attendees monitored tropical storm Alberto and talk of the hurricane season being kicked off dominated. The credit unions had similar policies of once the storm is named, the first steps of their action plans were taken. Remembering that everyone was in the same boat was important during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina last year, Singing River Federal Credit Union Senior Vice President for Operations Tim McLeod emphasized. The philosophy of the South Mississippi credit union at the time was "If you could prove you were a Singing River member, come on in. If you can't, come on in anyway," he said.

He explained that his credit union had built a second floor on one of its branches where there was no need in the small town except that it serves as a mirror site for the credit union's operations. McLeod himself drives off with his camper to somewhere safe away from the storm so that he can return as soon as possible and a second backup of the data is on the second floor of the CEO's home, well North of the ocean.

In the first step of Singing River's plan, an e-mail is sent out to all employees to ensure that the staff contact list is up-to-date and complete. The plan is tested each quarter and monthly during hurricane season.