Under Union Privilege's assistance benefit, disaster victims who participate in the Union Plus Credit Card, Loan and Union Member Mortgage and Real Estate programs may be eligible for payment extensions, financial assistance and other special help from program providers.

"We understand how tough it is for people to put their lives back together when disaster strikes," said Union Privilege President Charles McDonald. "That's why we've contacted our program providers and assembled this special-assistance package -- to let our members know that we're here, and that we'll do whatever we can to help."

Assistance plans vary by program provider. To find out more, disaster victims who participate in one or more of the following Union Privilege programs should call these toll-free numbers:

* Union Member Mortgage and Real Estate -- 1-800-472-2005;

* Union Credit Card -- 1-800-622-2580;

* Loan Program -- 1-800-343-7097

Union Privilege and its suppliers offered similar program payment extensions and financial assistance to flood victims in the Red River, Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys last year. Special assistance also was offered to American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) members who were victims of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1996 and to hurricane victims in recent years.