WASHINGTON — Tropical Storm Chris never reached Florida as was expected at one point, but CUNA enabled its Credit Union National Emergency Information System–1-877-CULOCATE–just in case.
The toll-free number is available to all credit unions to inform their members and others of their operating status following a disaster, such as a hurricane. CUNA announced the service, operated by VoiceGard, earlier this summer as hurricane season was approaching.
“When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast last year, one of the biggest problems was communication, including between credit unions and their members,” CUNA Director of Disaster Preparedness and Vice President of League Relations Scott Earl said. “1-877-CULOCATE is the credit union movement's answer to this problem, so that credit unions have a consistent and simple method for letting members, the news media, first responders and others know the status of the credit union.” Credit unions are encouraged to also have their own alternative emergency numbers, which can be referenced in the CUNEIS message, to provide their members more in-depth information. CUNA also attached a flyer in the information sent to the leagues describing VoiceGard's other services.
In readying for Chris, which weakened significantly before it got anywhere near the U.S., CUNA notified all the state leagues that the system was up and running for credit unions in need. The leagues in turn were to notify all credit unions of the service.
Any credit union in the country can call into the CUNEIS and set up two voicemail boxes: one active for contact information while operating during or after a crisis, and one inactive when operating normally. The service is free of charge to all credit unions nationwide and funded by CUNA Strategic Services, a subsidiary of CUNA in partnership with the state leagues. It includes an electronic “post-office box” for each credit union in the country to use. Credit unions can update their messages as needed.
Earl also stressed that aside from far-flung disasters like last year's Hurricane Katrina, the system can be used for power outages, terrorist attacks, or other natural disasters.
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