SafeWise 2026 Safety Guide

Welcome to SafeWise's 2026 Safety Guide. From weather safety to immigration safety, we want to cover it all. Bookmark this guide and keep coming back. We will be adding new sections and updated news and information throughout the year.

Ever wonder why your weather app is so wrong lately? There’s good reason. It’s all due to the NOAA. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, known as NOAA, is responsible for the vast majority of weather data that is supplied to your apps. NOAA uses a network of radar, airplanes, 15 satellites, computer models, and weather analysts to create weather predictions and records.

During 2025, though, NOAA has been slowly dismantled. It has faced hundreds of layoffs and major budget cuts. All of this makes it very hard to provide quality weather information. As of June 30, 2025, the Defense Department  stopped providing crucial satellite weather data, as well.

In addition, the National Weather Service paused weather alerts in several languages in April of 2025. Some are reporting that the National Weather Service isn’t even sending out any warnings in some areas of the country.

What all this means is, you’re less protected when it comes to preparing for severe weather. So, it’s important to take steps to take care of yourself if government weather agencies are less than 100%. Here are some tips to keep you safe during bad weather.

First, learn how to look for signs of a potential tornado (yes, even if you don’t live in Tornado Alley). Signs include:

• A rotating, funnel-shaped cloud or one that appears full of debris.
• A loud roar that sounds like a freight train in the sky is another good clue.
• Sometimes, the sky turns black or green just before a tornado.

Watching a few tornado videos on YouTube can give you an idea of what the skies look like before a tornado.

If you know a tornado is coming, take action to stay safe.

Find a local news station that uses local Doppler radar. This means that the news station has its own radar to detect local weather like hail, flooding, snowfall, ice, high winds, and tornadoes. 

For example, KWTX-TV in Texas has a radar network that covers Central Texas. During bad weather, check the news station’s website, app, or TV channel for weather warnings.

Sign up for classes to become a trained weather spotter. Your local fire department or police station can provide you with information on becoming a spotter or you can go to the SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program website to search for local information.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been deporting undocumented people and detaining citizens all over the country.

Marina Shepelsky, an immigration attorney who moved to the U.S. from Kiev as a teenager and has dedicated her life to helping immigrants find safety in the U.S. gave SafeWise this list of preparations for when ICE comes to your town:

• Keep copies of important documents for yourself and your children, including passports, IDs, and immigration paperwork

• Store originals safely and tell family where they are

• Carry copies with you, and consider placing copies in children’s school bags

• Share your immigration “A” number with trusted family members if you have one

• Gather proof of how long you have lived in the U.S., such as school records, pay stubs, medical records, and work documents

• Keep criminal case documents if you were ever arrested

• Never carry fake documents or give false information

• Make sure children’s birth certificates, Social Security cards, and passports are ready and accessible

• Memorize important phone numbers, including your lawyer and emergency contacts

• Keep children’s school contact info updated

• Choose a trusted caregiver for children in case of detention

• Prepare legal guardianship forms if needed

For guidance on how to stay safe when ICE comes to town, check out our full guide: How to Prepare for ICE Enforcement: Know Your Rights and Stay Safe.

You may also want to take a look at our 2026 Special Report: Immigration Enforcement & Public Safety Perception and How Immigration Enforcement Is Shaping Community Safety Perceptions in 2026.

Abortions are currently illegal in 13 states, unprotected in five, and severely restricted in 12 other states. More than 200 women faced pregnancy-related criminal charges just one year after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Now, three years later, women are being arrested for traveling to different states to obtain an abortion, women are dying from non-viable pregnancies, and women are being arrested for miscarriages (something that happens in 10% to 20% of known pregnancies).

So, if you are a woman (or someone with a uterus), you need to be aware of how to best protect yourself. SafeWise consulted with women's health experts to help you better navigate the legalities of healthcare in the U.S.

Right now, accessing reproductive care, especially procedures like a termination, is a little more complicated than it used to be. For help on tips for staying safe while planning an abortion, we consulted with Whitney Joy Smith, investigator, founder, and CEO at Smith Investigation Agency.

"Start by reaching out to trusted organizations that can give you support and referrals," says Smith. "You should be careful, though, because a lot of 'crisis pregnancy centers' can look legitimate but will give you misinformation, and some have even been found to employ people without medical training to wear scrubs and present as doctors or nurses.

"If you need to travel for care, you should avoid posting about it on social media and only share details with people you trust. I would even consider turning off location services on your phone. Many support networks can also help with travel and accommodations, so don't hesitate to ask for help."

Travel in 2026 isn't business as usual. Global conflict, rising crime, government policy changes, and evolving safety risks mean travelers need to stay more alert than ever — whether flying across the country or the globe.

The U.S. Department of State issued a "worldwide caution alert" in June, 2025. Americans are urged to take extra precautions and remain highly vigilant during international travel, especially in places where demonstrations have erupted or where anti-American sentiment is high. Geopolitical tensions, especially in regard to the Iran-Israel conflict, were a major driver of the worldwide alert.

Some big concerns include potential airspace disruptions in the Middle East and increased security threats in regions and countries with active political unrest or conflicts. There have also been advisories issued for specific countries, including Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisories for places like Yemen, Iran, and Syria.

International travel advisories
You can check on current travel advisories before booking your ticket or activities. Here's a guide to help you understand what each advisory level means:

• Level 1: This is the lowest risk level, and means that you should take standard precautions before international travel. No identified security safety risk (outside of normal conditions when traveling abroad) is indicated.
• Level 2: This level means there may be identified risks to your safety and security while travelling. You should be able to find the specifics laid out in the travel advisory for the country you're traveling to.
• Level 3: Things get a lot more serious at this level. Travelers are encouraged to reconsider their travel plans. If you've got travel booked to a place with a Level 3 advisory, serious risks to your security and safety have been identified. Notice of a Level 3 alert is the perfect time to make sure you purchased travel insurance in case you need to cancel or reschedule your trip.
• Level 4: At this level, travel is highly discouraged. A Level 4 advisory means that there are life-threatening risks and the U.S. government may not be able to help U.S. citizens, even during an emergency.

Some of the factors that are considered before a travel advisory is issued include crime against tourists, terrorism threats or activity, unrest and instability, access to healthcare, risk of natural disasters, kidnapping events, and wrongful detention of U.S. citizens.

Closer to home, there are growing concerns about travel within the country, even though domestic travel is currently considered safe overall. Whether it's higher violent crime rates, risks of gun violence, concern about intolerance and hate crimes, or civil unrest, it's smart to understand what's going on in different states and cities before visiting. 

Domestic travel safety tips:

• Know your destination: Research city-specific risks and avoid high-crime neighborhoods — especially at night.
• Watch for alerts: Sign up for local emergency alerts and pay attention to real-time crime and weather notifications.
• Get REAL ID-ready: As of May 7, 2025, you must have a REAL ID to get through security for domestic flights. It may also be required to enter certain federal buildings. If you don't have a REAL ID, you can use a valid passport instead. If you don't have either, you may be able to get through security by undergoing an extended screening process.

It's always smart to keep safety in mind when planning a trip, but right now it feels even more critical. Here are some reminders to help you have a fun and safe journey.

• Check advisory levels for all destinations — foreign and domestic — on the State Department's Travel Advisories Map.
• Enroll in STEP. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that provides you with real-time updates from the local consulate or embassy, wherever you're traveling.
• Sign up for alerts and check news from reputable media sources and government websites.
• Use a travel app like OZZI, which sends real-time safety alerts about everything from traffic issues to demonstrations all over the globe.
• Carry proper identification, including a REAL ID or a valid passport for air travel.
• Review travel insurance to ensure you're covered in case of an emergency.
• Avoid large gatherings or protests abroad—even peaceful ones can escalate quickly.
• Blend in by researching local customs, dress, and social norms (e.g., Americans are known for talking too loudly, so keep things like that in mind). You don't want to broadcast that you're a tourist through your clothing or behavior.
• Safeguard your electronics and other digital information. Consider taking a quick inventory of the information that's stored on your phone. Make sure sensitive personal information can't be accessed, and avoid posting sensitive or potentially inflammatory information online. Setting social media accounts to private may help.

In today's landscape, being a savvy traveler means being a prepared traveler. Safety starts with information — make sure you have it before you pack your bags.