DES MOINES, Iowa — Conditions were improving for Iowa credit unions Tuesday as the cleanup process begins with eight still having closed branches and only one, Metco of Cedar Rapids, having to relocate operations to another CU, according to the Iowa superintendent of credit unions.

“As long as the sun stays out, we're in good shape,” said Rebecca Behrens, executive officer, noting that most of the closings are due to power outages or the inability of personnel to get into areas blocked off by law enforcement.

Over the weekend the state regulator and the Iowa Credit Union League were counting more than 20 closed facilities caused by the river and reservoir flooding which took a huge toll in loss of homes and businesses, a factor to be weighed as CUs prepare special loan deals for flood victims.

Meanwhile, CUs joined by their league foundations, vendors and other trade groups, began mobilizing a relief effort Tuesday to aid employee and member victims of the Midwest flooding with the Iowa Credit Union Foundation joined by the National Credit Union Foundation administering an on-line collection and fund disbursement effort

“We know there are several thousand people in several Iowa cities where the need is greatest and we've started the process of reviewing the many e-mailed grant applications,” said Marybeth Foster, executive director of the ICUF.