As winter weather approaches, it is a good time to think about how to keep your family safe from impending storms.
One question that seems to come up quite often is “Where is the safest place for me to shelter?” This appears to be an easy question with a simple answer. But, in actuality, it all depends on where you are during the severe weather event and what options are available to you for shelter.
Find your safe place
The safest place to be during a tornado event is in a storm shelter. However, most people do not have a FEMA-approved shelter in their home or their place of work. The next best option is a basement or an inside room without windows (bathroom, closet, center hallway) on the lowest floor. Try to avoid sheltering in a room with windows in case they are blown out during the storm. For added protection, use a bike helmet to cover your head or crawl under something sturdy (such as a heavy table or workbench). You can also use a mattress, sleeping bag or blanket to protect yourself from flying debris.
A mobile or manufactured home is never a safe place to be during a severe weather event, such as a tornado. If you live in one of these structures, it is a good idea to move to your safe place as soon as a watch is issued to give you adequate time to relocate.
The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) diagram below gives you a “quick check” on which rooms are safest during severe weather. Don’t forget to think through where your safe place would be at home, at work and at locations you frequent. You never know when inclement weather may catch you, so you need a plan in place for places that you visit often.
Now that you have thought about your safe place, get your friends and family involved. Ask them questions like:
- What is the plan for your pets during extreme wind events?
- What items do you have in your emergency kit?
- Do you have a safe place during severe weather events?
- How will you receive weather alerts?
- Who will you check on before and after extreme weather events?
Encouraging others to think about their own preparedness makes you a force multiplier that could result in saving lives.
Participate in #SafePlaceSelfie
If you really want to get involved on a whole new level, you can participate in the SafePlaceSelfie campaign held each April by the National Weather Service’s Weather-Ready Nation. A Safe Place Selfie is a photo you capture of your safe location when a specific hazard threatens your area. If you prefer to not be in the selfie, you can instead capture a photo of your pet or just an image of the location. The message of the campaign is simple: know your hazards, and take action to reduce your risk. Below is a photo from the 2021 campaign.
Regardless of how you plan to participate, the most important thing is for you to take time to think about your safe place.
- Are there large objects that you should move that could fall on your head?
- How long will it take you to get to your safe place?
- Who should you take with you to your safe place?
- Is there enough room for them?
- How will you protect your neck and head?
We should be preparing for hazardous weather year-round. For a list of preparedness events near you, visit the National Weather Service Awareness and Preparedness Calendar. Together let’s plan ahead, be ready and stay safe!
Meet the author
Tracie Sempier, Ph.D.
Resilience Engagement Lead
Tracie Sempier serves as the resilience engagement lead at Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. She engages with communities to help them become more resilient and works to decrease negative impacts of... Read more
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