NCUA Warns Credit Unions in the Path of Tropical Storm Sally to Prepare

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 15 -- The National Credit Union Administration issued the following news release on Sept. 14:

Credit unions in the path of Tropical Storm Sally are advised to take precautions as the storm intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Credit Union Administration said today.

"Credit unions in the path of Tropical Storm Sally should to take measures to protect their staff and secure their operations," NCUA Chairman Rodney E. Hood said. "The NCUA will be closely monitoring the storm's progress, and we stand ready to assist credit unions with maintaining or restoring operations, if necessary. We encourage everyone to be alert for official announcements and media reports as the storm draws near."

Tropical Storm Sally is expected to hit the central Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane as early as tomorrow morning.

The NCUA maintains a hurricane and disaster information page on its website as well as on MyCreditUnion.gov (opens new window). The National Hurricane Center (opens new window) has regular updates on the storm as it approaches landfall, and the Department of Homeland Security (opens new window) has additional information on being prepared for hurricanes.

Credit union member deposits remain protected by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (opens new window). Administered by the NCUA, the Share Insurance Fund insures individual accounts up to $250,000, and a member's interest in all joint accounts combined is insured up to $250,000. The Share Insurance Fund separately protects IRA and KEOGH retirement accounts up to $250,000. The Share Insurance Fund has the backing of the full faith and credit of the United States. Members with questions about their insurance coverage can find information online at the Share Insurance Coverage page (opens new window) of the NCUA's MyCreditUnion.gov website.

Credit union members with questions may contact the NCUA's Consumer Assistance Center (opens new window) at 800.755.1030, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern. The NCUA's Office of Credit Union Resources and Expansion can provide urgent needs grants (opens new window) of up to $7,500 to low-income credit unions that experience sudden costs to restore operations interrupted by the storm.