Loss of Power Forces Many Virginia CUs to Remain Closed Following Isabel

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Although conditions throughout the state following Hurricane Isabel's devastation on Sept. 18 were continuing to improve at press time, the Virginia Credit Union League reported that as of the morning of Sept. 22 almost 850,000 Virginia Power customers were still without power and many credit unions in the hardest hit areas were still closed. The league said it had no received any reports of "significant structural damage" to any credit union in the state or D.C., but VCUL SVP David Miles said "there were reports of minor water damage in a couple of cases." Two of the peninsula's largest CUs, Langley FCU and Newport News Shipbuilding ECU, only had a limited number of branches open Sept. 22. Seven of Langley's 12 branches were open, and four out of eight Shipbuilding's branches were operating. Guardian FCU and two credit unions in downtown Norfolk narrowly escaped flooding. GFCU President/CEO Chris Anuswith said localized flooding brought water to without 40 feet of Guardian's doors. In the Shenandoah Valley, DuPont Community CU didn't fare as well. As a result of four feet of flooding in the area, two of the credit union's drive-up ATMs sustained significant water damage. By the weekend of Sept. 20, one of the ATMs was reportedly rebuilt and was running. However, the branches staff wound up drying more than $90,000 in wet bills from the ATMs using irons. One of Fort Belvoir FCU's largest branches was closed Sept. 19 following reported significant tree and water damage on base. In addition, New Horizon CU in Manassas was closed that day as well since half of the CU's employees were without power or couldn't reach the credit union because of downed trees and power lines.