April 8th is Safe Place Selfie Day

Do you know what to do and where to go if severe weather threatens? Many of us are cooped up at home or working from home, so now is the best time to get together with your family and create a plan so you all know exactly where to go and what to do before we get into the heart of severe weather season. To help make creating and practicing your severe weather safety plan more exciting, the National Weather Service created the #SafePlaceSelfie campaign, and today (April 8th) is Safe Place Selfie Day!

All you have to do is pretty simple: identify where in your home or workplace you would take shelter in the event of a severe storm or tornado, take a selfie of you and your family in your safe place, and upload it to social media using the hashtag #SafePlaceSelfie. (If you’re not working from home, please continue to follow CDC guidelines on social distancing.)

By now, most people know that when a tornado warning is issued you should head to your basement. If a tornado warning is issued, that means either a tornado has been confirmed, or there is strong rotation being picked up on radar or by spotters.

A basement or any place underground is the best place to take shelter from a tornado. If you don’t live somewhere with a basement, an interior room on the lowest floor of the building, such as a bathroom or closet, is the best place you can be. If you live in a large apartment building with a central stairwell, the bottom of the stairs is also a great place to take shelter. The goal is to put as many walls between you and the tornado as you can so you can protect yourself from flying debris. If you live in a mobile or manufactured home, you are NOT safe from the winds of a tornado, and if you don’t have a storm shelter you’d need to evacuate your home and head to your nearest local shelter, which many times is a local church or school.

Credit: NWS


There are a few things you should keep in your safe place including water, nonperishable food, medicine, a first aid kit, an old bike, baseball, or football helmet to protect your head, and an old pair of tennis shoes to protect your feet from broken glass and other debris. Remember, pets are part of the family too, so you should also have food, water, and medication for them as well. All of these items can be kept in a duffel bag that can easily be kept in or near your safe place.

Share your #SafePlaceSelfie with CBS 58!



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