ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland shared pictures from her recent tour of hurricane-ravaged New Orleans which depicted that the Gulf Coast region is still far from out of the woods. Hyland visited the hurricane-battered Lower 9th Ward, St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes, as well as neighborhoods near the 17th Street levee breach in New Orleans. "You can't fathom the needs of the communities until you see it with your own eyes. The pictures on the news reports don't even come close. Neighborhood after neighborhood, mile after mile, all you see are empty, gutted houses and businesses devoid of life and human activity," she explained. The NCUA Board member met with area credit unions during a lunch put together by Louisiana Credit Union League President and CEO Ann Cochran and commended the officials for their dedication and service. "It was reassuring to receive confirmation from credit unions that NCUA staff did an admirable job responding quickly and efficiently to this crisis," Hyland commented. "However, after seeing the destruction, it is very clear to me that there are still significant challenges and issues. I will share with my fellow board members my impressions and concerns in an effort to assure continued agency attention to rebuilding affected credit unions in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast." She also discussed the operational and regulatory hurdles that could impede recovery.