Life-threatening emergencies
If you are in a life threatening situation, you should always call Triple Zero (000) for police, fire or ambulance.
The only way of contacting Triple Zero (000) is with a voice call - you cannot use SMS, email, instant messaging, video calling or social media to contact emergency services via Triple Zero (000).
Be prepared to describe your location as accurately as possible. Your mobile phone only shows the call-takers your billing address, not your current GPS location. And don’t hang up until the call taker tells you to.
The free Emergency+ App is a Triple Zero (000) smartphone app that provides key numbers for the emergency services and displays the GPS coordinates of your location so you can read it out to the emergency operator.
Ways to get warnings and information
During an emergency, there are a range of ways you can get warnings and information.
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.
Social media
Follow VicEmergency on Facebook and Twitter for real-time warning notifications.
Radio and TV
During emergencies, Victoria’s emergency broadcasters will provide information, including updates and community alerts, to help you to make decisions based on the advice of the emergency services. If necessary, emergency warnings will interrupt normal programming on the radio and TV.
You can get this information from any of Victoria's commercial radio stations, ABC local radio, a number of community stations and SkyNews TV. These are outlined further below and a list of the coverage areas can be downloaded via the Emergency Management Victoria website.
ABC Local Radio
Use the frequency finder for the right ABC frequency at your place or while you’re travelling. These can also be heard online and on the ABC Radio app.
SkyNews TV
Provide emergency information to their viewers through their;
- 24 hours TV channel
- Digital channel including crawlers and alerts
- Website at skynews.com.au
- SMS alert service to SkyNews subscribers
Community Broadcasters
There are ten official community Emergency Broadcasters that provide critical local information to their communities;
- 3MGB
- Alpine Radio
- Eastern FM
- Gippsland FM
- KLFM Bendigo
- Light FM
- Mansfield Community Radio
- Plenty Valley FM
- UGFM - Radio Murrindindi
VicEmergency Hotline
- Call 1800 226 226
- The VicEmergency Hotline provides information during and after major incidents in Victoria. It also offers information to help householders, landowners and small businesses plan for and recover from emergencies.
- In a situation where you can see or smell smoke, the VicEmergency Hotline can also advise whether or not a planned burn is in progress.
- If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service:
- TTY users phone 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 226 226
- Speak and Listen users phone 1800 555 727 then ask for 1800 226 226
- Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 1800 226 226
- If you don't speak English call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 for translated information from the VicEmergency Hotline. If you know someone who can't speak English, provide them with this number.
Sirens
Community alert sirens are used as part of Victoria’s warning system for all types of emergencies – including flood, fire and storm. While not all communities have a community alert siren, where they are used it comes from the sirens on your local CFA station.
You need to listen to how long the siren sound for, as it can mean two things.
- Short Siren (up to 90 seconds) – indicates that the CFA Brigade has responded to an incident nearby. Stay informed.
- Extended Siren (5 minutes) – indicates that a current emergency has been identified in the local area and people should seek further information immediately. The emergency incident will impact people in this area.
Telephone alerts
A Telephone Alert is one way emergency services can alert the community to official warning information using the National Emergency Alert system.
You don’t need to sign up – we can target this information to you by your landline (voice), or mobile phone (text) – either by address or by a specific geographic area.
Alerts will begin with “Emergency, Emergency” and will only be received if your landline and mobile phone (based on its billing address and/or the your last known location) is within the defined area and has service.
Telephone Alerts are not used in all circumstances, and depends on the nature of the incident. You should not wait to receive a Telephone Alert before you act.
Public address system
Speakers have been installed in 94 locations to create a public-address system for use in emergencies. Victoria Police can use the system to provide warnings and safety information.
The speakers will emit the Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) sound, as well as messaging developed by police that will be tailored to the incident.
The Public Address System is active and may be used by Victoria Police during major emergencies to provide information to the community. Victoria Police may activate the system at any time to provide warnings or safety information to alert the public.
The system works alongside other emergency management messaging, such as text messages, as well as police and emergency services on the scene of any incident.
