WASHINGTON — This week, a number of events will mark the Aug. 29 anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and other major storms that struck the Gulf Coast region last year forever charting the uncertainty of rebuilding in several states.

Katrina alone is estimated to have caused more than $80 billion worth of damage and the death of 1,836 people with an estimated 705 people still missing since the storm slammed into several states late last summer. In April, President Bush sought $105 billion for repairs and reconstruction in the region, but critics contend that rebuilding the region, particularly New Orleans, has been slow and mired in red tape.

Credit unions were among the many that experienced devastating damage to facilities and member displacement. Smaller credit unions had to link up with larger ones to survive, many also joined shared ATM networks to help members gain access to accounts. In all, the movement–leagues, trade groups, foundations, regulators, and many vendors–pulled together to get credit unions impacted by the hurricanes back to a reasonably operational state.