Resources

Emergency contacts

* For life threatening, critical or serious situations only

Be aware and listen out

During an emergency it is important you stay up to date and aware of the situation around you, and rely on accurate information from official sources disseminated via:

• TasALERT website
• Tasmanian Fire Service (TFS), State Emergency Service (SES) and Tasmania Police websites and social media pages
• Radio - ABC local radio 91.7FM or ABC Emergency page
• Bureau of Meteorology
• Social media
• Television
• Emergency Services personnel (including doorknocks and letterbox drops)

Emergency apps

Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is Australia's national weather and climate agency. Its expertise and services assist Australians in dealing with the harsh realities of their natural environment, including drought, floods, fires, storms, tsunami and tropical cyclones. The BoM provide regular forecasts, warnings, monitoring and advice spanning the Australian region.

BOM Weather app

Red Cross First Aid

The Red Cross First Aid app is a comprehensive pocket guide to first aid and CPR, giving you access to the most up to date first aid information anytime, anywhere.

Australian Red Cross First Aid app

ABC Radio

The ABC Radio app gives you easy access to more than 40 radio stations.

ABC Listen app

Act

Depending on the alert level and instructions provided, when you learn an emergency event may impact you:

• Act immediately on the advice provided and ensure all householders are aware of the warning and advice
• Activate your Emergency Plan and Pet Emergency Plan (if applicable)
• Collect your Emergency Kit
• Where possible and safe to do so, check on family, neighbours or friends who may be unaware of the risk or need special assistance.

In an emergency:

• Prioritise your safety and the safety of others and call 000 immediately if your life or other lives are at risk
• Follow all directions from key emergency agencies
• Do not wait until the last minute to leave
• If you need to evacuate, ask family and/or friends located outside the impacted areas if you can temporarily stay with them
• Keep connected and informed as situations can change quickly

Evacuation

For your safety during an emergency, you may need to go to a safer place.

In the event of a fire, flood or other disaster it may be hard to think clearly. Staying informed can help you make better decisions if you need to evacuate.

If you’re concerned about your safety, don’t wait to be told to evacuate, prepare and leave early.

a) How will I know if I need to evacuate?

You may make the decision to go to a safer place or you may be asked to leave your home by emergency services.

• The best way to know if you need to leave is to monitor your local ABC radio station (91.7 FM), television broadcasts, emergency service updates and weather warnings. Remember, if mobile or power networks are down, a battery-operated radio and radio broadcasts may be your primary source of information.
• You may be told to evacuate by text message, phone call to your landline, someone at your door.
• You may not receive notice to evacuate as disasters can happen quickly or networks may be down. Stay aware and informed by monitoring the channels.
• Leaving early is always the best option. Remember to check for road closures before you leave.

If you are told to evacuate, follow the instructions to leave immediately, and grab your emergency kit. Assist household members who need extra help evacuating.

b) Leaving early

If you’re concerned about your safety in any way, don’t wait to be told to evacuate, prepare and leave early.

• Grab your emergency kit – with essential household items for about 3-7 days.
• Assist vulnerable or frail family or neighbours who may need extra help.
• If you have animals, pack a kit for them and a carrier to transport them in.
• Prepare your home – if there's time before you leave: turn off the power, gas, water, and lock doors and windows.
• Check evacuation routes are open - check for road closures.
• Advise family, friends or neighbours of your decision to leave and where you plan to evacuate to.

If you have no other option than to evacuate you should enact your plan and refer to your list of the things that you will need if you had to leave your home. Consider what critical items you should take if you do not have adequate time to pack or have not made a plan.

Every household is different. As a guide for how much to pack, think about what you will need if you are away for three days.

You can pack things like:

• Water and food
• Mobile phone and portable charger
• Medications and prescriptions
• Spare clothes, school uniforms and blankets
• Keys, cash and credit cards
• Pet food, bowl and medication
• Radio operated on batteries, for updates in case there's no phone service
• Torch with batteries
• First aid kit
• Toiletry supplies
• Mask and hand sanitiser

You can also pack important paper documents too:

• Licences, birth certificates, passports
• Home and medical insurance policies
• Write contact numbers on paper: for friends, family, neighbours, and emergency services
• Photos

c) Where should I go?

The preferred option is that you make alternative arrangements by staying with family and friends or relocating to an accommodation facility. An evacuation centre should be your last resort as a place of refuge.

c1) Evacuation Centres

In times of emergency, the City of Launceston may establish and manage evacuation centres for any residents who are forced to leave their home and have nowhere safe to go.

The location of these centres will be advised through the TasALERT website, City of Launceston website and via our social media channels including Facebook.

An evacuation centre is the provision of emergency sheltering to protect individuals from the threat of disaster and assist with meeting their basic needs.

Essential and basic needs will be provided at the centre including water, food, shelter, toilets/sanitation, First Aid, safety and security.

The locations of an evacuation centre will vary depending on the emergency and the location of the threat; a centre could be set up at a local hall, community centre, school, church, show ground or sports facility, etc.

The preferred option is that you make alternative arrangements by staying with family and friends or relocating to an accommodation facility. An evacuation centre should be your last resort as a place of refuge.

c2) Nearby safer place

A nearby safer place is a place of last resort for people during bushfire emergencies. If you have no bushfire survival plan, or your plan has failed, a nearby safer place may be your last resort when there is an imminent threat of bushfire.

Tasmania Fire Service identifies some nearby safer places and lists these in Community Bushfire Protection Plans. Nearby Safer Places are assessed annually.

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