Girl Scout History Project

Hurricane symbols

Girl Scouts and Hurricanes–Yes, There’s a Patch for That

Girl Scouts can learn about hurricanes, weather, and emergency preparation with several council-level patch programs.

Ann Robertson
2–3 minutes
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It’s Hurricane season 2024, with communities cleaning up from Helene as Milton looms close behind.

Girl Scouts are impacted just as any other community group, with camps often suffering immense damage from the wind and storm surge. Troops outside the damage zones have already stepped up to help with donations.

But never fear, the Girl Scouts are ready for anything, including hurricanes. For their Bronze Award Project, for example, Citrus Council’s Troop 2059 made and distributed hurricane preparedness kits.

Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle

Some 20 years ago, the Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle issued Hurricane Preparedness Council’s Own badges for Brownies and Juniors. While these badges are no longer available for purchase, they contained lessons that are still valid today and that can be applied to many disaster scenarios.

Symbols for tornado, lightning and hurricane
Hurricane Preparedness (discontinued)
Symbols for tornado, lightning and hurricane
Hurricane Preparedness (discontinued)

Florida Panhandle, headquartered in Tallahassee, was more than familiar with hurricane damage. Hurricane Michael, in 2018, ruined both Camp For All Seasons and the Panama City Service Center.

Florida Panhandle could not afford to repair these facilities and in 2019 merged into Gulfcoast Council, based in Sarasota.

Southeast Florida

The Girl Scout Council of Southeast Florida, based in Lake Worth, also had a weather emergency patches. Storm Readiness was available for Brownies and Juniors in the 2000s.

Their Storm Readiness patch has been updated and is available for purchase.

White hurricane radar image on blue background.
Storm Ready Brownie (discontinued)
White hurricane radar image on blue background.
Storm Ready Junior (discontinued)
Red hurricane-warning flags on blue background.
Storm Ready Current

Tropical Florida and Nassau County NY

Based in Miami, Tropical Florida also has its own patch program about hurricanes. These storms are not confined to the Gulf region, as the Girl Scout Council of Nassau County, New York, focused on educating residents of Long Island.

Hurricane symbols
Hurricane Awareness, Tropical Florida
Hurricane Nassau County
Hurricane Awareness, Nassau County

North Carolina Coastal Pines

North Carolina Coastal Pines focused on emergency relief with a fun patch for troops that assisted with relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Michael in 2019. (I wonder if they donated to Florida Panhandle?)

They also have their own Hurricane Awareness patch program.

Two outstretched hands reach over hurricane symbol.
Hurricane Relief GSNCCP
Dramatic patch with hurricane symbols.
Hurricane Awareness Patch Program GSNCCP

Both patches are available through the Online Girl Scout Shop.

Stay safe, everyone!

© 2025 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.

6 responses to “Girl Scouts and Hurricanes–Yes, There’s a Patch for That”

  1. Sue Schoneman Avatar
    Sue Schoneman

    I remember in 1972 I attended a Wider Opp in Miami GS Tropical Seas. So much fun. But, it began just as Hurricane Agnes was hitting the Florida shore. My flight into Miami was very long and bumpy. We had to shelter the first night and by the next day, all was calm and warm. But the trip to camp was difficult due to street damage. I was just impressed how everyone just knew what to do and to just move on. I hope they endure this one as well.

    Reply
  2. Misty Murphy Avatar
    Misty Murphy

    Nice!
    Just as an FYI, the GSNCCP Hurricane Awareness patch is a program patch with requirements too.
    https://www.nccoastalpines.org/content/dam/girlscoutsnccp-redesign/forms-and-documents-/pg942w_hurricane_awareness_patch_program.pdf

    Reply
    1. Ann Robertson Avatar
      Ann Robertson

      Thanks! I’ll add the link.

      Reply
  3. Karen Pauli Avatar
    Karen Pauli

    Our motto is “Be Prepared!” and there is a need for badges for many forms of emergency preparedness. I would love to see one on fire safety (Have a fire escape plan for your house, where do you have smoke alarms, etc) In my area (upper midwest) tornado preparedness is important too. I graduated out of GS in spring of ’71. Much later, when I had my own house, I started working with feral and stray cats in my neighborhood. This led to doing animal rescue in New Orleans after Katrina, then joining an animal rescue organization and responding to the Greensburg tornado and when Cedar Rapids, IA flooded. If GSUSA won’t, EVERY council should study the needs of their area and put together a badge/patch on preparing for likely emergency situations in their area! And I want to see every pet care badge/patch include how to evacuate with your pet!!!

    Reply
  4. Kimi Avatar
    Kimi

    Thanks Ann! This is a good idea especially as girls get older and want more “real world” badges. Young girls should know what to do in general (i.e., don’t panic, listen to instructions).

    Reply
  5. Arielle Masters Avatar
    Arielle Masters

    Stumbled upon these tonight online:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/196752911760
    2004 CFC “I Survived Hurricane Season”

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/165852347656
    I SURVIVED Hurricane EL NIÑO 2016 Storm Trooper GSGLA

    Reply

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