FRESNO, Calif.–In recognition that an increasing number of disasters affecting communities nationwide, Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) said it partnered with the Community Housing Council of Fresno to sponsor an interactive workshop designed to help residents prepare for the unexpected.

According to EECU, families from across the Central Valley attended the two-hour workshop to learn about disaster preparedness from a variety of organizations, including the Fresno Fire Department, Animal Rescue, and the Community Emergency Response Team.

EECU Director of Member Research and Analytics Mike Jones was also on hand to provide tips and information to help attendees be financially prepared for an emergency.

‘Important Safety Net’

“Having a savings in place provides an important safety net for any type of emergency that comes up, whether that’s a natural disaster or losing your job,” Jones said in a statement. “We’re proud to offer products and services that help our members save and be financially prepared for these types of situations.”

In addition to financial education, EECU said it also provided backpacks that could function as a “go-bag” in the event of an emergency evacuation.

Community Housing Council Executive Director Amber Castro said the event was a success and she received positive feedback from several attendees.

The Goal

“Recent disasters across the country have shown us how important it is to be prepared before an emergency strikes,” Castro said in a statement. “Our goal with this event was to equip our community with the knowledge and resources they need to stay safe, make informed decisions, and build resilience.”

EECU is a member of the Community Housing Council of Fresno, which was established in 1994 to promote housing opportunities for low-to-moderate income families.