CUNA Mutual Group said Tuesday it has activated its Property andCasualty Disaster Claims teams to help credit unions in Louisiana,Mississippi and Alabama threatened by Tropical Storm Isaac.

The storm is expected to become a hurricane later Tuesdayshortly before making landfall on the north cost of the Gulf ofMexico, perhaps on Wednesday, the seventh anniversary of HurricaneKatrina.

As it has in response to previous disasters, CUNA Mutual officials saidthey have developed a comprehensive, coordinated process fordisaster response ready to handle claims.

“As a precaution, CUNA Mutual Group has contacted the stateleagues and potentially affected policyholder credit unions locatedwithin 10 miles of the Louisiana/Mississippi coast,” CUNA Mutualsaid in a statement.

“We advised them we will continue to monitor the storm and haveasked them to phone us using our toll-free emergency number(800.637.2676) if their credit union sustains anydamages or if they are aware of any other credit unions that havebeen damaged,” the statement said.

That number is answered live, 24/7, CUNA Mutual said.

“Once the storm passes, we will follow up with credit unions webelieve may have been impacted,” the statement said.

Scores of credit unions across metro New Orleans and insouthwest Louisiana and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast closed earlyMonday and were expected to remain closed throughWednesday.

A large number handled member requests for cash and short-termloan assistance, the league said.

President Obama declared a state of emergency in Louisiana onMonday as that state and others along the Gulf Coast prepared forIsaac.

Forecasters said Isaac may intensify into a Category 2 hurricanewith winds of about 100 mph by early Wednesday, with a projectedpath directly toward New Orleans. Isaac could become the firsthurricane to hit the Gulf Coast since 2008.