NWS National Seasonal Safety Campaign: Preparing the public for hazardous weather year-round

December 1	March 1	May 24-30	June 1	September 1

NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) is taking a National Seasonal Safety Campaign approach designed to prepare the public for seasonal weather hazards. Seasonal campaigns (winter, spring, summer, fall) will focus on the major weather hazards that are experienced around the country during each season.

Taking a seasonal approach at the national level will allow NWS to focus outreach efforts on major weather hazards as they occur and to prepare the public for future extreme weather events. This seasonal approach replaces national awareness weeks such as Rip Current Awareness Week, Flood Safety Week and National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. However, National Hurricane Preparedness Week will still be recognized because hurricanes have a defined season. Hurricanes will also be included in the seasonal campaign so that safety messages will be sent as they occur.

Materials for each campaign can be found by clicking the buttons at the top of the page.

A New, More Timely Approach to Weather Preparedness

NWS chose to replace safety awareness weeks with a year-round approach for a simple reason: bad weather happens year-round. For example, severe weather can occur anytime - it does not wait for a single week in March. With the National Seasonal Safety Campaign, we seek to inform the public about seasonal weather hazards during the time they are most common. This is a 365-day a year effort and can’t be confined to a single week.

On a practical level, the National Seasonal Campaign will develop outreach materials written for a general audience that can be used any time of the year. This includes:

• New weather safety websites focused on preparing for hazards such as winter weather, floods, tornadoes and fire.
• Shareable social media content for use by NWS and partners, including Weather-Ready Wednesday posts designed to encourage preparedness.
• Monthly communication themes focused on particular hazards.
• Seasonal content to highlight the hazards of the season.
• Responding proactively as severe weather threatens with actionable preparedness guidance for the public.
• Promoting weather preparedness across NWS web and social media properties and through our network of 122 Weather-Forecast Offices across the nation.
• Working with partners such as FEMA, the Red Cross and Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors to amplify our message.

Partner Support

While NWS will no longer lead national weather awareness/preparedness weeks (with the exception of Hurricane Preparedness Week), it will continue to support pre-existing awareness/preparedness weeks such as Rip Current Awareness Week and Lightning Safety Awareness Week. Look for NWS participation in the following weather awareness weeks, both on the national and local level:  

• Air Quality
• Heat
• Lightning
• Rip Current
• Safe Boating
• Tsunami

Air Quality

Air quality can be a problem throughout the year. NWS will help to bring attention to this deadly hazard throughout the year by communicating air quality safety information when the messaging will be most relevant to the public.

In addition, NWS will support the work of Federal and National level partners to recognize Air Quality Awareness Week from April 27 - May 1, 2015. During that time there will be social media posts from NWS Facebook and @NWS Twitter, as well as events to support our partners.

Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices will also hold Air Quality Awareness Weeks, but not necessarily at the same time as the week recognized by national partners. To find out when Air Quality Awareness Week is recognized in your state, visit our Weather Preparedness Events Page. Local offices also stress safety ahead of hazardous weather events that will impact their local area, recognizing the hazard at other times of the year.

Heat

Heat is a significant weather hazard. NWS will help to bring attention to this deadly hazard throughout the year by communicating heat safety information when the messaging will be most relevant to the public.

In addition, NWS will support the work of Federal and National level partners to recognize Heat Awareness Day on May 22, 2015. During that time there will be social media posts from NWS Facebook and @NWS Twitter, as well as events to support our partners.

Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices will also hold Heat Awareness Days, but not necessarily at the same time as the week recognized by national partners. To find out when Heat Awareness Day is recognized in your state, visit our Weather Preparedness Events Page. Local offices also stress safety ahead of hazardous weather events that will impact their local area, recognizing the hazard at other times of the year.

Lightning

Lightning can happen in any month of the year. NWS will help to bring attention to this deadly hazard throughout the year by communicating lightning safety information when the messaging will be most relevant to the public.

In addition, NWS will support the work of Federal and National level partners to recognize Lightning Safety Awareness Week from June 21-27, 2015. During that time there will be social media posts from NWS Facebook and @NWS Twitter, as well as events to support our partners.

Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices will also hold Lightning Safety Awareness Weeks, but not necessarily at the same time as the week recognized by national partners. To find out when Lightning Safety Awareness Week is recognized in your state, visit our Weather Preparedness Events Page. Local offices also stress safety ahead of hazardous weather events that will impact their local area, recognizing the hazard at other times of the year.

Rip Currents

Rip currents can happen in any month of the year. NWS will help to bring attention to this deadly hazard throughout the year by communicating rip current safety information when the messaging will be most relevant to the public.

In addition, NWS will support the work of Federal and National level partners to recognize Rip Current Preparedness Week from June 7-13, 2015. During that time there will be social media posts from NWS Facebook and @NWS Twitter, as well as events to support our partners.

Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices will also hold Rip Current Preparedness Weeks, but not necessarily at the same time as the week recognized by national partners. To find out when Rip Current Preparedness Week is recognized in your state, visit our Weather Preparedness Events Page. Local offices also stress safety ahead of hazardous weather events that will impact their local area, recognizing the hazard at other times of the year.

Safe Boating

Safe boating is vital. NWS will help to bring attention to this important practice throughout the year by communicating safe boating information when the messaging will be most relevant to the public.

In addition, NWS will support the work of Federal and National level partners to recognize Safe Boating Week, May 16-22, 2015. During that time there will be social media posts from NWS Facebook and @NWS Twitter, as well as events to support our partners.

Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices will also hold Safe Boating Weeks, but not necessarily at the same time as the week recognized by national partners. To find out when Safe Boating Week is recognized in your state, visit our Weather Preparedness Events Page. Local offices also stress safety ahead of hazardous weather events that will impact their local area, recognizing the hazard at other times of the year.

Tsunami

Tsunamis can happen at any time of the year. NWS will help to bring attention to this deadly hazard throughout the year by communicating tsunami preparedness information when the messaging will be most relevant to the public.

In addition, NWS will support the work of Federal and National level partners to recognize Tsunami Preparedness Week, March 22-28, 2015. During that time there will be social media posts from NWS Facebook and @NWS Twitter, as well as events to support our partners.

Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices will also hold Tsunami Preparedness Weeks, but not necessarily at the same time as the week recognized by national partners. To find out when Tsunami Preparedness Week is recognized in your state, visit our Weather Preparedness Events Page. Local offices also stress safety ahead of hazardous weather events that will impact their local area, recognizing the hazard at other times of the year.