The Golden 1 Credit Union's data center experienced a complete loss of power last February. This resulted in a hard crash of the mainframe system as well as all networks and other in-house systems. The cause of the power failure, which was isolated to our data center, was ultimately determined to have been a faulty circuit board in the emergency power off system. This system serves as a life-safety measure to override all power sources, including emergency back-up generators, in the event of an actual fire in the data center.

I hope this type of experience never occurs at other credit unions. However, the lessons learned may enable others to be better prepared for a similar situation.

In an emergency situation, the command and control approach to leading and managing is key. Swift, decisive and focused actions are critical to manage and mitigate the numerous priorities and impacts inherent in a crisis environment. Proactive and prompt one-on-one board communication resulted in full support for management's handling of the situation and allowed management to remain focused on crisis management during this difficult period.