A nonprofit immediately provided $77,000 in direct emergency assistance after a private aircraft crashed into the Murphy Canyon military housing area near the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is also continuing to provide long-term support for the 40 families displaced from their homes as a result of the May 22 crash.
“Through our coordinated efforts, NMCRS was able to provide immediate on-the-ground emergency assistance, offering grants and much more to the many Sea Service members and their families who needed it most during this tragic and urgent time of need,” said retired Navy Rear Adm. Dawn Cutler, Chief Operations Officer for NMCRS.
The crash caused a significant fire, leading dozens of families to evacuate with little time to gather basic essentials such as wallets, identification and phones.
Within hours of the incident, NMCRS offices, including its Miramar location, began an immediate response. From May 22 to 23, NMCRS staff assisted 81 service members and their families, delivering over $77,000 in direct emergency assistance to help with expenses for lodging, meals, transportation, and other immediate needs.
Around 40 military housing units remain uninhabitable, and NMCRS will continue to provide long-term assistance for the displaced families in critical need.
In addition to financial support, NMCRS will assist with insurance deductibles, replacing uniforms and essentials, and helping service members return to readiness and stability.
“A significant need still exists, as over 40 families are currently homeless from fire, smoke, debris and jet fuel contamination, so we’ll be providing ongoing assistance to those who serve our country over the coming days and weeks as they begin to recover from this horrific event,” said Cutler.
In the last two years alone, 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.
For more information about NMCRS, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.