Whether or not Flagler County is in immediate danger from extreme weather, it's good idea to check on your safety preparedeness year round. The National Weather Service has laid out best practices and a social media campaign to help us stay safe year-round. Knowledge is power and Realty Executives Oceanside encourages everyone to read and share!
Hashtag Safe Place Selfie Campaign
It’s a safety campaign brought on by National Weather Service & the steps are easy:
1. At work or at home...STOP and consider where your safe place is in the event of severe weather.
2. Take a selfie of yourself to share on social media using #SafePlaceSelfie to promote the message of preparation.
3. Encourage others by tagging them in your post asking “Where is your safe place from extreme weather?”
4. Expand the #SafePlaceSelfie conversation by surrounding yourself with your emergency kit, a NOAA Weather Radio, and a print out of your family communication plan.
Become a Ceritified Force of Nature
Be a Force of Nature by knowing your risk, taking action and being an example in your community. Kids, teens and parents can all check out the NOAA ways to become a Young Meteorologist and get certified in becoming a force of prepared nature!!
Be a Force of Nature by letting your friends and family know what you did to become weather-ready.
Lightning
In Flagler County thunderstorms and lightning are common. My kids often complain about having to leave the beach or get out of the pool. Use the following resources to help give your kids an idea of how serious a threat lightning is and maybe they'll argue less!
1.The second greatest cause for lightning fatalities are beach activities!
2. Fishing is the leading cause of lightning fatalities: fishermen are on piers, large rocks and sandy beaches as well in boats.
These are a number of reasons why beach activities contribute to so many fatalities:
1. The sound of thunder is hidden by the sounds of the surf and people having fun.
2. Safety, typically a car or other vehicle, may be some distance away.
3. Along the U.S. East Coast, people are generally facing to the ocean in the east but many storms come from the west.
Enjoy your time at the beach but keep these recommendations in mind:
Keep a watchful eye to the sky IN ALL DIRECTIONS and head to a safe place immediately at any sign of an approaching or developing storm
Monitor the forecast and radar on a phone or other electronic media and get to a safe place, such a vehicle or large, fully enclosed building (not a picnic shelter or other opensided structure).
When camping on the beach, have a hard-topped metal vehicle nearby and head into it at the first sign of a thunderstorm.
