The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
‘Don’t go Barney barmy for selfie pictures’
You could be risking life with storm
People are being warned against posing for “storm selfies” which could put their lives in danger.
As Storm Barney hits the UK, with gusts of up to 80mph forecast for exposed coastal areas, the public are being urged not to try to take photographs of themselves along promenades and breakwaters as they are battered by waves.
Barney, the second storm powerful enough to be given ahumannameby the Met Office and Met Eireann, brought gale and severe gale force westerly winds yesterday afternoon and evening, generating large waves around exposed coasts in south-west England and the English Channel.
While some localised spray and waves threatened to breach sea defences, the overall coastal flood risk was very low, the Environment Agency said.
But the agency and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ( R o S PA ) warned people not to pu t themselves at risk to capture dramatic moments along the coastline, and to avoid driving along p r o m enades with s p r ay or through flood water.
N e i l Davies , duty flood risk manager at the EnvironmentAgency, said:“The power of Mother Nature is a fascination to us all – and taking storm selfies may seem exhilarating – but over the last few years we’ve had an increasing number of people putting themselves and family members at severe risk along coastal paths and promenades.
“Floods destroy so take care and be prepared. Find out if you are at risk and sign up for early flood warnings. Stay safe and act now to be better prepared for flood to reduce the impact it could have on your family.”
David Walker, leisure safety manager at RoSPA, said: “If you get caught up or swept out to sea in these events your life will be at risk very quickly and our rescue services will also be at great risk.”