Credit union CEOs are heeding the dire warnings of Floridaofficials who have emphatically described Irma as a “nuclear”hurricane that is expected to bring life-threatening winds, stormsurges and torrential rains to south Florida early Sundaymorning.

The three credit unions in Key West, Monroe County Teachers FCU,Keys FCU and Southernmost FCU, closed their shops on Wednesdaywhile at least a dozen more cooperatives are closing branches,drive-thrus and offices early today or Friday.

A few credit unions have already announced that they do notexpect to reopen until Tuesday, September 12.But credit unions may be forced to keep their doors closed forlonger if Hurricane Irma's wrath is as bad as weather officials saythat it can be. Nonetheless, many credit unions are expectedto continue member services through online and mobile channels,ATMs and shared branches.

Drew J. Breakspear, commissioner of the Florida Office ofFinancial Regulation, issued a proclamation Wednesday thatauthorized state, national, and federally chartered financialinstitutions affected by Irma to close or remain closed untilemergency conditions no longer exist.

Nearly 90 of Florida's 136 credit unions could be in the directpath of Hurricane Irma if it lands squarely on the state's southerntip or along the east coast of the state.

The League of Southeastern Credit Unions estimated there are 69credit unions and their branches scattered throughout the southFlorida region where the expected impact of Hurricane Irma isprojected to be the greatest, according to national weather reportson Thursday afternoon. An additional 18 credit unions and theirbranches are located along the northeastern coastline (nearJacksonville) where the storm may have a serious impact aswell.

Because Hurricane Irma is wider than Florida, it could bringdevastation on state's west coast as well. During a Thursday newsconference, Gov. Rick Scott warned Floridians to be prepared toevacuate regardless of which coast they live on. Mandatoryevacuations were issued for the Keys and low-lying areas ofMiami-Dade and Broward counties, but Scott said Floridians need tomonitor the hurricane's path to be ready to move to nearbyshelters.

“This hurricane poses serious threat to the state of Florida andour credit unions,” said Patrick La Pine, president/CEO of LSCU.“The safety of staff is of paramount importance, and the LSCU alsostands ready to assist credit unions with serving their memberswith a mobile unit and any other resources we can provide.”

The league said it will post credit union status updates and otherinformation on its website. The league's site also lists a variety of resources to assist creditunions before, during and after the storm.

The Southeastern league has also set up a 24/7 disaster hotline,888-328-5767, for credit union employees to call for updates whenprimary communication is down.

Although the chance of direct impact is increasing in portionsof Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, it is too early tospecify the magnitude and locations of those impacts, the NationalHurricane Center reported Thursday.