By Yesh Kane

Take the #SafePlaceSelfie challenge! A selfie is a statement about you. You can use this powerful tool of self-expression to have fun, plan for safety during weather emergencies, and influence your social network to plan for safety too.

Imagine it is another manic Monday, and you are hurrying to get ready for work and your kids off to school when the entire house trembles. It is an earthquake!  Many such natural hazards can occur unexpectedly anywhere. Emergencies like earthquakes, wildfires, and flash floods are much less predictable than other weather conditions like hurricanes or winter storms, which weather services can track. Yet many of these natural hazards can occur with little time to prepare. That is why it’s essential to have a plan in place — and safe locations identified — before dangerous weather hits.

If there was one extreme weather preparedness action you want your loved ones to take, what would it be? Ask yourself, ‘What if?’ Where would you go if life-threatening weather approached your area? What are the most common hazards that can occur in places you inhabit? What would be the best place to stay safe during various emergencies and weather situations? Practicing what to do and where to go for any hazardous weather makes the action second nature, which is crucial when time is of the essence. 

The National Weather Service created the #SafePlaceSelfie challenge to remind us to plan for unexpected moments. Red Cross supports the National Weather Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency in asserting that finding your safe place is one of the essential preparedness activities to save your life during extreme weather. 

On April 5th, join us on social media for the #SelfPlaceSelfie challenge. You’re invited to participate by posting a selfie taken in a safe place. Also, share with your friends where you would go if you needed to take shelter!

When planning your safe place selfie, consider these steps:

Step 1: Identify common hazards in your area

• Think about the hazards that can happen where you live, work or visit. These could be frequent hazards like lightning, flash flooding, or extreme heat. Or, they could be rare but high-impact hazards, such as a tsunami.
• Maybe your most common hazards aren’t weather events. Where is your safe space during wildfires, earthquakes, rough surf, and rip currents?

Step 2: Find locations to stay safe, take a selfie, and post with #SafePlaceSelfie

• Get the whole family involved in the creative process. For example, do you have young children or a pet? What is your plan to protect them?
• You can also think beyond just a physical location. For example, your safe spot may be anywhere you can access lifesaving warnings through technology like weather channels on your smartphone. It could also be how close you are to safety, such as swimming near lifeguard stands.

Step 3: Challenge others to post a safe place selfie

• Encouraging others to participate could help others stay safe. Tag your friends to have them find their safe place from natural hazards, and like and share posts to spread awareness on social media.
• Knowing where to go if a disaster strike can minimize hesitation and help you make good decisions to ensure the safety of yourself, your family, and your pets.

What else can you do the promote and participate in #SafePlaceSelfie Day?

• Create a friendly competition on your social network online and offline at work or neighborhood.
• Get others involved, like your colleagues, family members, friends, and pets.
• Use this campaign to promote other weather safety actions, such as having multiple avenues to receive warnings, assembling an emergency kit, and building your communication plans. Ready.gov is a great resource to help with your planning process.
• Get creative! Think beyond the traditional safe locations for tornadoes and focus on other hazards such as lightning, rip currents, tsunami, flood, extreme heat or cold, wildfire, earthquake, etc.

The simple act of showing others that you are prepared for extreme weather by participating in the #SafePlaceSelfie challenge could save the life of someone you know.