4. Stay safe during a disaster

It's important to stay informed and connected during a disaster. Now is the time to bookmark, sign up and save relevant alerts and warnings resources and services on your smart phone, tablet, laptop and/or desktop so you can stay one step ahead.

For life threatening emergencies, phone Triple Zero (000). 

Resources

TasALERT

TasALERT is an emergency warning and information system that brings together emergency information from across government.

Tasmania Police Road Closures

For information about road closures, visit the Tasmania Police website.

ABC Radio

Listen to ABC Local Radio 91.7FM and visit the ABC Emergency page for important updates and advice from Government agencies.

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.

The BoM app for both Apple and Android devices is available via your app store or the BoM website

City of Launceston Check our website and follow our Facebook page for alerts and updates.

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:

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

Emergency contacts

Life threatening emergencies  Telephone Triple Zero (000)* 

 State Emergency Service (SES) - Flood and storm assistance

Telephone 132 500

* For life threatening, critical or serious situations only

Non-emergency contacts

Tasmania Fire Service (TFS)  To report a fire, telephone Triple Zero: 000
For non-emergencies, contact: 1800 000 699
State-wide fire bans | Fire alert map 
Ambulance Tasmania Non-urgent ambulance assistance: 1800 008 008
Administration: 1300 303 196
Early Access to Defibrillation Program1300 979 057
Tasmania Police 131 444
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000
Health and hospital information Contact the Department of Health or phone Service Tasmania on: 1300 135 513
Poison Information Centre 131 126
Health Direct After-hours medical advice phone: 1800 022 222
Road conditions and closures For state-wide details visit:
Tasmania Police
Roadworks map – Transport Services
Power supply/outages 

TasNetworks Current power outage information 

 Report fallen power lines or a power outage phone: 132 004

Weather and warnings

Visit the Bureau of Meteorology site or check their Telephone Weather Services Directory for Tasmania.

For warnings and advice, tune to your local ABC radio station. Details of your local ABC radio frequency and web page can be obtained from ABC Local.

Emergency animal disease

If you suspect a farm animal has an emergency animal disease, report it by calling 1800 675 888 any time.

Visit the Biosecurity Tasmania website to find out more about animal biosecurity.

Orphaned or injured wildlife To report injured or orphaned wildlife, contact the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Mon to Fri, 9am - 5pm on: 6165 4305.
Emergency plant pest

If you suspect an emergency plant pest or disease, report it by calling 1800 084 881 any time.

Visit the Biosecurity Tasmania website to find out more about plant biosecurity.
Tsunami warnings Check the latest Bureau of Meteorology tsunami warnings.
Listen to your local radio and TV announcements.
Telephone 1300 TSUNAMI: 1300 878 6264
City of Launceston

Phone 03 6323 3000 Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 5.00pm

For out of hours emergencies involving Council services or facilities, phone: 03 6323 3333
Telecommunications Telstra
To report faults and damage to Telstra property phone: 132 203
For business-only technical support phone: 132 299
Optus
Phone: 133 937
Schools For information on school closures, contact the school directly via phone, website or social media are suggested.

Any Tasmanian Government schools closed because of emergencies will also be listed at Alerts for the Department for Education, Children and Young People Schools and Other Sites.
Businesses For information on preparing your business for natural disasters, visit the Business Tasmania website.
Family and sexual violence specialist support services

In an emergency, where someone is in immediate danger, always call Triple Zero 000.
For more information about specialist support services available, visit Safe from Violence.

1800RESPECT 
National sexual assault, domestic, family violence counselling service. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week phone: 1800 737 732

Safe at Home Family Violence Response and Referral Line
Information and referral service that connects callers to the appropriate family violence service, including counselling. After-hours calls are directed to Tasmania Police. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week phone: 1800 633 937

Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis Line
Statewide crisis support service for recent sexual assaults. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week phone 1800 697 877.

Family Violence Counselling and Support Service
Statewide counselling and support service for children, young people and adults affected by family violence. Monday to Friday, 9am - midnight. Weekends and public holidays: 4pm - midnight. Phone: 1800 608 122

Men's Referral Service
Counselling service available to men and families that provide telephone counselling, online chat, information and referrals to local services. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week phone 1300 766 491

MensLine Australia
Telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns.
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week phone 1300 789 978

National Relay Service

The National Relay Service (NRS) allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment to make and receive phone calls.

Voice relay number: 1300 555 727
TTY number: 133 677
SMS relay: 0423 677 767
Help Desk: 1800 555 660 (Available 8am – 6pm)

Translating and Interpreting Service The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting service for people who do not speak English and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients. Phone: 13 14 50

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

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. 

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.

 

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.

If you have no other option but to go to evacuate you should enact your plan of the list of the things that you would need to take if you had to leave your home. However, consider what critical items you would take if you do not have adequate time to make 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

 

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. 

Where do evacuated people go.png

 

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.

 

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.

Next Step: Recover after a disaster