By Daniel Webb
Royalty free photo credit – Pexel
Weather agencies such as the National Weather Service, along with weather-related media agencies such as The Weather Channel have been using various social media outlets to both inform users of impending weather conditions as well as to educate them on general weather knowledge that is important to the day to day user.
Virtually all news channels have their own Facebook page in addition to many being active on other forms of social media. Facebook has become a great place for these agencies get the info out to the masses when there are high chances of severe thunderstorms or tornadoes, when a hurricane is approaching an area, or when road conditions have been impacted due to winter weather. With the ability to share posts across various social media platforms, the widest possible viewing audience can be reached compared to the traditional method of relaying these warnings via TV and radio. This has in turn enhanced public safety and lessened the casualty rates experienced due to natural diasters. Social media is also a fantastic way for these agencies to inform citizens when it is safe to resume travel or emerge from homes or shelters following any type of weather event.
Social media is also being used to educate people before these events occur. Many people don’t understand the difference between a weather watch and a weather warning, nor what to do when one of these occur. The National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), the Storm Prediction Center, along with countless other national and local agencies work hard to educate the public in these areas so they know whether they need to take shelter ASAP, or just be aware of general conditions for the day. There are also many private pages that tend to focus on a specific area that do a fantastic job of capturing the attention of people living within their state or community and engaging with them about potential weather hazards and conditions in their area. The Kansas Weather Page is a great example of this for the area we live in. Social media has really been a huge help in bolstering public safety and improving education when it comes to weather.
Media and Technology 