Nonprofit provided direct emergency assistance to the 220 families affected by the extended power outages.
VIRGINIA BEACH (July 16, 2025) — On July 8, Navy families living in the Wadsworth Shores military housing area in Virginia Beach, Va. began experiencing electricity outages and many were without power for over 24 hours. Families were grappling with no air conditioning amongst the heat and humidity, unexpected expenses related to the need for temporary housing, hundreds of dollars in lost food and more.
Within hours, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) field offices in the Norfolk, Portsmouth and Viginia Beach, Va. area initiated an emergency response, ensuring that impacted families had instant access to support. From July 11 to 15, NMCRS staff assisted 220 Navy families, delivering over $132,000 in direct emergency assistance to help with expenses for lodging, food and other immediate needs because of the extended power outages.
Retired Navy Rear Adm., Dawn Cutler, chief operations officer for NMCRS stated, “Through coordinated efforts with our field offices in the area, NMCRS was able to provide immediate on-the-ground emergency assistance, offering grants to the many Sailors and their families who needed it most.”
In keeping with its mission, NMCRS has always stood ready to help those that protect our country when an unexpected natural disaster or other emergency situation occurs. In the last two years, NMCRS has provided $2.2 million in disaster aid to over four thousand active-duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their families, with over $17 million in disaster assistance being provided since 2015.
“Military life presents unique challenges under the best of circumstances,” Cutler continued. “And the impact a situation like this can have on those who protect our country can greatly detract them from their mission-readiness.”
NMCRS also offers a variety of other services, including financial, educational and other forms of assistance through their offices in over 213 locations throughout the U.S. and around the globe.
All NMCRS services and programs are made entirely possible through generous donations. To make a donation, or for more information about the many ways NMCRS supports active-duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their family members, visit nmcrs.org.