FORT VALLEY, Ga. — A destructive tornado and an unexplained fire hasn't stopped Robins Federal Credit Union's plans to rebuild its Fort Valley branch.

The series of disasters goes back to Aug. 29 of last year when a Hurricane Katrina-related tornado swept through the area reducing the branch to a pile of sticks. A temporary facility, which was housed in the parking lot of the former location, opened on Sept. 26, 2005, but closed on Nov. 25 to make way for the new, permanent branch. Then, on Feb. 17 of this year a fire destroyed the reconstruction, and builders had to start again from scratch. Construction had begun on the branch in January.

The new, full-service branch opened for business Aug. 28 with a grand opening celebration taking place Sept. 8, nearly a year to the date when it was initially demolished. A ribbon cutting ceremony will mark the opening along with a free food and gift basket raffle, other giveaways and a live radio remote broadcast. To woo new members, anyone who opens an account, conducts a transaction or opens a loan will automatically be entered into a drawing to be one of four winners of $250 in free gas. The promotion will run through Oct. 31. "For over a week, we had members knocking on the door to see if we were open while staff was preparing to open," said Andy Flowers, vice president of lending. "Finally one day prior to the tornado destroying the branch we reopened with no advertising and had 250 members walk through the door. What a testimony to the loyalty of our members." Flowers said the credit union "appreciates the patience our members have shown as we fought Mother Nature on several fronts. A tornado followed by a fire during rebuilding provided us with an extra challenge." –[email protected]