CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - BVS Performance Systems has come out with anew toolkit to help credit unions ensure they are prepared for apossible pandemic.

The checklist is available free to any credit union andsubscribers can also access a sample policy through BVS' ComplianceCenter. Recommendations include creating a Pandemic Response Team,raising employee awareness and implementation of a preparednessplan. "Just as you plan for hurricanes, floods, power outages andother potential business disruptions and disasters, you need to beready if the bird flu or other pandemic someday spreads amonghumans," BVS Compliance Director Jeff Torp said.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) predicts that as many as25 to 30% of the U.S. population could be affected by an avian flupandemic resulting in high levels of absenteeism and otherpotential disruptions.

BVS is a consulting firm offering compliance, training, salesand other assistance to financial institutions.