Storms can occur anywhere and at any time. They often bring strong winds, flash flooding, large hailstones and lightning. They can cause major damage and put your life at risk.
For emergency storm assistance, call SES on 132 500.
For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000).
Before a storm:
Early preparation is your best defence against storms:
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Clean your gutters, downpipes and drains to ensure they are not blocked.
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Check that loose items such as outdoor furniture, umbrellas and trampolines are secured.
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Park your vehicle undercover and away from trees.
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Stay safe while camping:
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Choose camping sites that are under a clear sky. Never camp under trees or branches.
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Camp on higher ground away from creeks, rivers, streams and other waterways.
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Be prepared for power outages – ensure you have back-up power including a battery powered torch, radio, spare batteries, and any charged powered banks or generators.
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Be alert to the dangers of thunderstorm asthma: Always carry your blue reliever with you. Know the signs of worsening asthma and the asthma first aid steps. If you know you are sensitive to pollen, you may wish to stay inside on high pollen and windy days, and during and after a thunderstorm. However, this may not always help and you must remain alert to the signs your asthma is worsening. For more information visit the Better Health Channel.
During a storm:
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Stay informed – monitor weather warnings and forecasts at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through the VicEmergency app, website and Hotline (1800 226 226), or local emergency radio broadcasters.
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For emergency storm assistance, call SES on 132 500.
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For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000).
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Stay indoors and away from windows.
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If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors.
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Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
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If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater.
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Be aware of hazardous trees - heat, fire or recent storms may make trees unstable and more likely to fall during a storm.
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Floodwater is dangerous and toxic – never drive, walk, ride or enter floodwater.
After a storm:
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Stay safe by avoiding dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen or damaged trees.
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Stay away from fallen powerlines – always assume they are live.
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Drive slowly, obey all road signs and never drive through floodwater.
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Electricity, gas and water supplies may be disrupted. If your property has been damaged, have all utilities checked and tested by a licenced technician before you use them.
Further information:
Find out more information on storm safety by visiting the Victoria State Emergency Service website: ses.vic.gov.au/storm
VicEmergency app
The VicEmergency app aligns with the VicEmergency website to provide a centralised location for Victorians to access timely emergency information and warnings.
The app includes warnings and incident notifications for fire, flood, storm, earthquake, tsunami, weather warnings, shark sightings, beach closures and more.
In order to receive location specific app alerts when warnings are issued or incidents occur, you need to set up your watch zones.
You can download VicEmergency from the App Store or Google Play.
For app support, please visit the VicEmergency Knowledge Base.
