Map of Florida Credit/Shutterstock

Back-to-back hurricanes have severely affected about 122 counties in the Southeast, killing more than 220 people and displacing thousands.

And along their paths through Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas were businesses, including 958 credit union branches, two thirds of them in Florida and North Carolina.

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After Hurricane Helene came ashore in Florida's Big Bend Sept. 26, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued major disaster declarations for 104 counties in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, according to a KBRA report.

Hurricane Milton came ashore near Sarasota, Fla., at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, and at 9 p.m. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a notice listing 28 counties with a hurricane warning.

Some of the 308 branches in the 23 Florida counties that were major disaster areas from Helene overlap with the 552 branches in 28 counties in Milton's path. Combined, the storms hit 41 Florida counties with 613 branches, based on NCUA data as of June 30.

Map of Florida counties with credit union branches impacted by Hurricane Milton

Nine credit unions — all based in Florida — have more than 20 branches or corporate offices in Milton's path. Those credit unions account for 322 of the 552 branches in Milton's path. They are:

  • Suncoast Credit Union of Tampa with 71 branches.
  • MidFlorida Credit Union of Lakeland with 58 branches.
  • Space Coast Credit Union of Melbourne with 36 branches.
  • FAIRWINDS Credit Union of Orlando with 33 branches.
  • Achieva Credit Union of Dunedin with 27 branches.
  • Addition Financial Credit Union of Lake Mary with 26 branches.
  • GTE Federal Credit Union of Tampa with 25 branches.
  • VyStar Credit Union of Jacksonville with 23 branches.
  • Grow Financial Federal Credit Union of Tampa with 23 branches.

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) released a short report Wednesday, including a map showing the 104 major disaster declaration counties from Helene and bank branches in those areas.

Map of counties impacted and/or damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton , also where many credit union branches are located in Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee

"In addition to the tragic human cost many communities face, banks with a significant presence in affected areas may have to manage indefinite operational costs and risks to their lending portfolios," KBRA said.

"Commercial real estate (CRE) loans could be particularly exposed to physical damage caused by wind, flooding and other natural disaster-related concerns. These properties may see reduced cash flow from the downtime needed to complete repairs, further complicating their borrowers' repayments."

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Jim DuPlessis

Jim covers economic data trends emerging for credit unions, as well as branch news and dividends.