Hawaii credit union takes the lead in disaster response
‘The entire community put its arms around this island.’
KGEFCU CEO Monica Belz (bottom left) used her background in coordinating disaster response to gather and deliver supplies for people in need.
Leah Michaels was offering a helping hand in the community after a flood inundated the Hawaiian island of Kauai in April. The chief communication officer at Kauai Government Employees Federal Credit Union (KGEFCU) was wearing a credit union shirt.
Suddenly a woman wearing a neck brace stopped her pickup truck on the street, hopped out, and wrapped Michaels in a fierce hug as she began crying.
The woman recognized “KGEFCU” as the same letters written on the gas can used to fill the boat that carried her to medical care. And she couldn’t wait any longer to say “thank you” to KGEFCU for helping people on Kauai’s north shore when it was underwater.
Quick response
With little warning, a rainy weekend had turned into a deluge that washed out the main road connecting Kauai communities, took down power and communications, and flooded homes. In Hanalei, four feet of water fell in 24 hours.
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