Following a devastating wildfire, William Chapin, a Life Scout with Troop 223 of Pacific Palisades, California, sifts through the ruins of his grandparents’ home.
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Following a devastating wildfire, William Chapin, a Life Scout with Troop 223 of Pacific Palisades, California, sifts through the ruins of his grandparents’ home.
Sienna Nocas noticed the dark smoke when she looked out the windows the morning of January 7. The 16-year-old didn’t think much of it — this was California, after all. Wildfires happen often, and they usually stay in the mountains.
This fire was different.
By the afternoon, Sienna was scrambling through her bedroom, gathering whatever keepsakes she could. Her yearbooks. Her favorite stuffed animals. Her merit badge sash.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. The Nocas family lived just one block from a fire station in the Pacific Palisades. But as the flames swept through the Los Angeles neighborhood, even the fire station was in danger of being burned to the ground.
“It was so unreal,” the Life Scout from Troop 223 says. “It happened so fast. It looked like the whole hillside was on fire. Once we left, there was no coming back.”
The next morning, the family’s fears were confirmed: Their home was gone, as were thousands of homes and other buildings in the Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Canyon area. Many members of Troop 223 were also impacted by the inferno, one of the worst the city had ever endured. Still, when faced with destruction, Scouts looked to each other and their communities to figure out how they could help.
Firefighters respond to the Los Angeles wildfires last January.
A natural disaster not only can rob people of their homes, but it also can steal their cherished mementos and sense of security. In an instant, friends and family might need to move away to seek stability, forced to start their lives anew.
It’s healthy to grieve what is lost. To heal, it’s important to take care of yourself.
“We all tried to stay positive,” says Dylan Schaffer, 11, a Scout with Troop 223. “The important thing is we’re OK, but it’s still hard because of all the memories we had there. At first, it was a mix of feelings. I was sad. I was mad. Then I was grateful.”
The Scout Oath states to help other people at all times. It’s not always easy, especially when you’re hurting too. But for the Scouts of Troop 223, they sought those opportunities. Life Scouts like Sienna altered their Eagle Scout project plans so they could comfort and aid their neighbors. Some helped others sift through the ash to find any sentimental items.
Scouts with Troop 223 of Pacific Palisades, California, sort through donated clothes. The wildfires in California last January destroyed thousands of buildings, causing billions of dollars worth of damage.
“I learned just how important it is to support other people,” says Life Scout William Chapin, 15, who contacted companies for donations and discount codes to help replace lost Scouting gear. “Scouts have meant a lot. It’s been a good source of helping me find resources and help other people.”
Troop 223 also met at schools to donate clothes and toiletries, and they partnered with community groups to organize contributions coming from around the country.
“All of the Scout Law was embodied through this,” says Eagle Scout Hunter Young, 18. “Many people lost their homes. It might take years to rebuild. Scouts are there, ready to help with whatever they need. And you can help a great deal.”
Left: Scouts with Troop 1615 of Evans, Georgia, and Troop 10 of Martinez, Ga., prepare meals and care packages for those in need following Hurricane Helene. Right: Sea Scout Ship 94 of Fayetteville, North Carolina, helps clean up a property damaged by Hurricane Helene.
A few months before the fires in Southern California, the other side of the nation was hit with a different kind of natural disaster: Hurricane Helene.
This deadly storm struck Florida with winds reaching 140 mph. As it moved north, it dumped rain, especially in North Carolina, which received more than 30 inches in some places. The combination of high winds and flash flooding left a wake of destruction across several states.
Sea Scout Ship 94 of Fayetteville, N.C., had planned a trip to a boat show in Maryland, but after seeing the extensive damage from the hurricane, the group decided to help.
“It was a last-minute thing,” says Noah Zeek, 19, an Ordinary Sea Scout. “We were sitting around a table and said, ‘Let’s go do this because it’s doing good for the community.’”
The ship’s Skipper located a nonprofit organization that was coordinating service opportunities in the Appalachian Mountains. There was plenty to do: organizing donations, clearing brush and helping people clean up their homes. The Sea Scouts pitched in where they could.
Troop 173 of Harrisburg, N.C., had camping plans that the hurricane disrupted. So the guys changed their focus and met at a Christian retreat center that was distributing meals to nearby towns that were impacted. During the two days the Scouts were there, they helped cook and package about 4,500 meals.
“It’s an obligation of a Scout to stand up and help,” says Colin Ritchie, 15, a Life Scout. “It was a life-changing experience, and I’m glad I did it.”
Many of them were surprised by the damage they saw in western North Carolina: bridges torn in half, buildings swept from their foundations and riverbanks littered with debris.
“It put a perspective that this could happen anytime and anyplace,” says Grant Crosby, 14, a First Class Scout. “It helped me get out of my comfort zone and try to make a difference and do the best I could.”
Left: Pack 7 cleans up debris around a Florida elementary school. Right: Pack 413 of Clearwater, Florida, picks up debris at Camp Soule after Hurricane Milton.
A couple of weeks after Helene broke up, another hurricane hit Florida. Hurricane Milton churned in the Gulf, growing into one of the strongest storms on record. It slowed before making landfall but still packed wind speeds of 120 mph.
Both storms shut down schools for weeks. During that time, Troop 77 and Pack 7 of New Port Richey, Fla., cleaned up debris and handed out meals. Though they had been through hurricanes before, the Scouts noticed Helene and Milton were different.
“It was shocking to see all the water lines left on houses. Some had 6-foot watermarks!” says Cash Kehoe, 12, a Tenderfoot Scout with Troop 77. “This is why it’s so important to evacuate if you’re in a flood zone.”
Being prepared for natural disasters can help keep you safe.
Pack 7 and Troop 77 of North Port Richey, Florida, fill sandbags before the hurricanes.
“Always plan ahead and have a detailed plan to evacuate,” says Bryce Young, 14, a Star Scout.
Afterward, Scouts are prepared to help pick up the pieces.
“After a natural disaster, we should help other people,” says Grant Davis, 11, a Scout with Troop 77. “It is important to show people that we care. We’re not just there to help them physically, but we are there to help support them.”
Many Scouting families and councils were impacted by these natural disasters, including more than 125 families in Southern California.
Scouting units from nearly two dozen states and even one from the United Kingdom responded, financially supporting the families. Councils helped replace their uniforms lost in the blaze.
But some of the simplest heartfelt gestures Scouts received were encouraging messages from other Scouts, plus offers to go camping with them when they could.
“It’s remembering the soul of Scouting,” says Eagle Scout Kholin Young, 16, of Troop 223. “It does make us stronger as a community having endured this. We have other people who are in this with us. We will recover.”
JL VETERAN 37 MALANG
