National Weather Service Encourages Taking a #SafePlaceSelfie

Whether you are at work, at home or on-the-go, extreme weather can strike at any time. The National Weather Service (NWS) encourages Americans to locate their safe places and share them on social media at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, #SafePlaceSelfie Day.

Knowing your “safe place” is a life-saving preparedness activity in the face of extreme weather, according to the NWS.

While storm shelters, safe rooms and basements are good safe places from tornadoes and strong winds, the NWS encourages people to think of other scenarios or hazards that may require safe spaces. The NWS website shares safety tips for weather conditions including floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. This campaign challenges participants to pinpoint a specific weather condition that their area faces and take a selfie in a place that will protect them.

This Wednesday, April 3, join MILLIONS (hopefully) at 11:11 AM local time in sharing your #safeplaceselfie
It's simple:
-Pick a weather hazard (there are lots: https://t.co/Jlj8KgPlgu )
-Find a safe place and snap a selfie
-share it with the hashtag #safeplaceselfie pic.twitter.com/ZyWjyax07k

— National Weather Service (@NWS) April 1, 2019

The NWS also suggests considering what other actions could make safe places even safer, such as equipping them with a weather radio or emergency kit and developing a family communications plan.

Trevor Boucher, a forecaster at the Las Vegas Weather Forecast Office, told the NWS that he believes the campaign’s message and call-to-action are powerful.

“If you’re sitting in your home or at your desk at work looking at Twitter, ask yourself ‘what if?’ Where would you go if life-threatening weather approaches your area? Spend a few minutes going to that safe place, take a selfie, and share over social media using the #SafePlaceSelfie hashtag,” Boucher said. “This campaign keeps it simple, while making a paramount preparedness action fun and interactive. And most importantly, we can see it working.”

After devising a plan and snapping a selfie, share your emergency preparedness location with the hashtag #SafePlaceSelfie.

About Bryan Gallion

Bryan Gallion is a freelance reporter for Montgomery Community Media. He previously interned with MCM in the spring of 2019. Bryan recently earned a master's degree in journalism at the University of Maryland. He can be reached at bgallion@mymcmedia.org.

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