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Keeping you safe - before, during and after emergencies

Immediate assistance 

If you are experiencing an emergency and require immediate assistance from Police, Fire or Ambulance, please call 000.

Warnings and alerts

For emergency warnings and up-to-date emergency information, please visit: Incidents and Warnings - VicEmergency

Get informed

Emergencies can happen and impact all of us. They can be large or small and depending on where you live, you may have a higher risk for certain types of emergencies, such as grassfires or bushfires.

It is important that we understand what types of emergencies we may face and how to prepare for them.

To help you prepare for all types of emergencies and to know what to do if an emergency occurs, we have created the following animated videos:

Access Emergency Management videos captioned in 10 languages

Emergencies put us, our loved ones and our communities at risk and it is important to be prepared and know what to do. Risks can be different based on where you live. Watch the following video to understand your emergency risks and how to prepare:

Technology that can help you, before, during and after an emergency

Technology can help you to prepare and stay safe in the event of an emergency. Watch the following video to understand what applications you should download to help you prepare and stay informed, before, during and after emergencies.

How to prepare for housefires, bushfires and grassfires

Fires can happen inside and outside the home and it is important to know how to prepare. Watch the following video to understand how to prepare for grassfires, bushfires and housefires and what to do during a fire.

How to prepare for storms and floods

Storms and floods happen, and it is important to know what to do during a storm or flood. Watch the following video to understand how to prepare for storms and floods and what to do during a storm or flood.

Australian Fire Danger Rating

Australia’s fire danger rating system has been improved and simplified to make it easier for you to make decisions to stay safe on days of fire danger risk. Across the country, fire and emergency services are applying nationally consistent colours, signs, and terminology. This means that wherever you go in Australia, and whatever the season or bushfire fuels you’re surrounded by, you can understand the level of threat and what you need to do to stay safe.

For more information about the Australian Fire Danger Rating visit AFDRS – Australian Fire Danger Rating System.

Fire Danger Ratings - Know your district
Visit: AFDRS – Australian Fire Danger Rating System for more information about the Australian Fire Danger Rating

Emergency warning symbols

To learn more about emergency warnings and symbols, visit Prepare and Get Ready - VicEmergency.

On applications such as the VicEmergency Application and many official websites, you will see the following symbols. Each symbol has a different meaning. It is important that you understand what each symbol means.

Advice icon - yellow triangle with black outline and a black i in the middle.Advice

An incident is occurring or has occurred in the area. Access information and monitor conditions.

Watch and act icon - orange triangle with a black outine and an exclamation mark in the center. Watch and act

An emergency is developing nearby. You need to take action now to protect yourself and others.

Emergency warning icon - red triangle with a black outline and with two white exclamation marks in the center.Emergency warning

You are in imminent danger and need to take action immediately. You will be impacted.

Prepare to evacuate/evacuate now icon - dark grey triangle with a red outline and a person running following an arrow symbol.Prepare to evacuate/Evacuate now

An evacuation is recommended, or procedures are in place to evacuate.

Additional messages

Advice icon - yellow triangle with black outline and a black i in the middle.All clear

Emergency activity in the area has subsided and is no longer a danger to you.

Community information icon - blue circle with a white i symbol.Community information

A newsletter containing updates for communities affected by an emergency.
Can also be used as notification that an incident has occurred but there is no threat to community.

What to include in a home emergency kit

Every household should have a home emergency kit that contains items that you will need, should you have to leave your home.

Image of the emergency kit packed into a bag.  Image of emergency kit unpacked to show each item which are listed below.

Remember – Every household has slightly different needs and the more people you have in your family, the more supplies you will need.

Below are some tips to help you prepare:

  • Check the contents of your kit regularly
    You will need to check your kit every few months to check expiration on food stored (and replace before it expires), to make sure the clothing still fits (particularly necessary for children), to check medications, rotate batteries, update ID, photos, and USB stick of important information and to make sure everything is still in working order.
  • Ensure that everyone in your house knows where your emergency kit is
  • Keep a list of all the items in your kit
    This should include expiration dates. Please see our emergency kit checklist for more information.
  • Store important items close by
    Store important items, like sleeping bags, air mattress, valuables and photos near your emergency kit for quick and easy access.
  • Write a list of any additional or oversize items that you may want There may be some items that won’t fit in your kit or that you may not want to store in your kit. Instead, put your absolute essentials in your kit and keep a list of items that you would also want to take in the case of an evacuation, if you have time.

Download our emergency kit checklist to find out what items you should include in your kit.

What else can you do to prepare for an emergency

Declared Fire Season and Total Fire Ban Days

Fire restrictions vary throughout the year depending on whether it is a Declared Fire Season or a Total Fire Ban Day.

To learn more about total fire ban days, visit Total Fire Bans & Fire Danger Ratings | CFA (Country Fire Authority).

Emergency contact numbers

  • Visit the VicEmergency website - you can also download the VicEmergency app to your device
  • Plenty Valley FM - 88.6 FM
  • ABC News Radio
  • Sky News – Official television broadcaster

  • TIS National operator – 131450
  • Available 24 hours, 7 days per week