Natural Disaster Preparedness Guide — Bushfire · Flood · Heatwave · Cyclone

Natural Disaster Preparedness (Bushfire · Flood · Heatwave · Cyclone)

Australia experiences bushfires, floods, heatwaves and cyclones every year. People who have just settled in Australia often don't know about the Fire Danger Rating, the warning levels, or which apps and phone numbers to watch. Separate from emergency calls (000), this guide explains how to prepare in advance and interpret warnings correctly.

This page is general guidance only and is not legal, immigration or disaster advice. Warning level names, phone numbers, app names, cyclone categories and rules differ by state and region and may change, so in a real situation always check the latest information from the official agencies in your state of residence (BoM, SES, RFS/CFA, etc.). Phone numbers, agency names and app names (e.g. 000, 132 500, Bureau of Meteorology, Hazards Near Me) should be used exactly as written so they are conveyed accurately.

Why prepare in advance — Australian disaster overview

Natural disasters in Australia are clearly seasonal. It helps to remember roughly the following.

Bushfire — mainly summer and spring (December to February in the south). Risk spikes on dry, hot days.
Flood & Storm — strikes suddenly after heavy rain. Common along the east coast.
Heatwave — midsummer. It is the deadliest natural disaster in Australia.
Cyclone — in the northern tropics (northern QLD, NT, northern WA) from November to April.

The key is to install the apps, agree on an evacuation plan with your family, and prepare an emergency kit 'before' a disaster strikes, not 'after'. Even if your English is shaky, there are free interpreter services, so don't be afraid.

If life is in danger, call 000 immediately

If life is in danger, or someone is trapped or injured by fire, flood or storm, always call 000 (Triple Zero). It is free and operates 24 hours. If English is difficult, after connecting say "I need an interpreter" and state your language, and an interpreter will be connected.

For flood or storm damage (a damaged roof, a tree blocking the road, etc.) where life is not in immediate danger, contact SES 132 500 (see item 4 below).

Reading warnings — the Australian Warning System (3 levels)

Australia uses the same 3-level warning system (Australian Warning System, AWS) for bushfires, floods, storms, heatwaves and cyclones. The colours and words are the same, so once you learn them they apply to every disaster. Warnings are issued on radio, apps and official websites.

Advice (Yellow) — "Be aware": An incident has occurred but there is no immediate danger. Keep checking the latest information and stay alert, as the situation may change.

Watch and Act (Orange) — "Start taking action now": The threat is growing and the situation is changing. You must start taking action now to protect your family and yourself (preparing to evacuate, etc.).

Emergency Warning (Red) — "Take action immediately": This is the highest-level warning. You may be in danger, so act immediately. Delaying now will put your life at risk.

Levels can be skipped depending on the situation (e.g. a sudden threat may go straight to an Emergency Warning). So don't assume you are safe just because there was no Advice — if you are in a high-risk area, monitor it yourself.

Bushfire — Fire Danger Rating and Total Fire Ban

Since 2022 Australia has simplified bushfire risk into 4 levels under the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) (reduced from the previous 6 levels). You can check it daily on roadside signs, apps and the news, and on days with little risk (rainy days, etc.) it is shown as 'No Rating'.

The 4 danger levels and what to do

Moderate (Green) — Plan and prepare.
High (Yellow) — Be ready to act.
Extreme (Orange) — Take action now to protect life and property.
Catastrophic (Red) — For your survival, leave bush fire risk areas.

On Catastrophic (Red) days, leaving is safest

On days rated Catastrophic, even the best-built and best-prepared homes cannot guarantee safety. If you live in a bushfire-risk area (near bush or forest), the safest thing is to leave early before a fire starts. Don't wait until you can see the fire.

Total Fire Ban

On high-risk days a Total Fire Ban (TOBAN) may be declared for the area. On these days lighting outdoor fires, barbecues (except some gas ones) and any work that can throw sparks are banned, and breaches carry heavy fines. Check daily on the official site or app of your state's RFS (NSW), CFA (VIC), etc.

Flood · storm — SES and 132 500

Floods and storms are common in eastern Australia, and suddenly rising water is very dangerous. The agency responsible for floods, storms and tsunamis is each state's State Emergency Service (SES).

132 500 = SES (help with floods, storms and tsunamis): For flood or storm damage where life is not in immediate danger — a damaged roof, a tree blocking the road, water leaking into the house — call the SES on 132 500. However, if life is in danger — someone trapped in water or injured — it is 000, not 132 500.

Flood · storm preparation and action

Check in advance whether you are in a flood-prone area and know your evacuation routes and high ground.
When a warning is issued, bring yard furniture and objects indoors and check your drains.
Never drive or walk into a flooded road — "If it's flooded, forget it." Even if it looks shallow, your car can be swept away.
Learn in advance how to turn off your electricity and gas.

Heatwave — Australia's deadliest natural disaster

Heatwaves are easy to overlook but are the deadliest natural disaster in Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issues heatwave warnings, which you can check on its website or the BoM app.

Stay cool, stay hydrated

Drink water often before you feel thirsty (avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks).
Reduce outings, outdoor work and exercise during the middle of the day (usually 11am to 4pm).
Close curtains and blinds, and if you have no air conditioning, use public cooled spaces such as libraries and shopping centres.
Check in on elderly people living alone and on your neighbours.

Never leave a child or pet in a car

Even with windows open or the air conditioning on, you must never leave a baby, child or pet alone in a car. The temperature inside a car can rise to a deadly level within minutes. Not even for a moment.

High-risk groups and emergency signs

People aged 65 and over, infants, and those with chronic illness (heart, lung, diabetes, etc.) are especially at risk. If you see suspected heatstroke symptoms — dizziness, nausea, confusion, stopping sweating — it is an emergency, so call 000 immediately.

Cyclone — northern and tropical regions (Cat 1–5)

Tropical Cyclones occur mainly in the tropical regions of northern Queensland (QLD), the Northern Territory (NT) and northern Western Australia (WA) from 1 November to 30 April. The BoM classifies them from Category 1 (weak) to 5 (very dangerous), and they bring fierce winds, heavy rain and storm surge. If you live in or travel to these areas, you need to prepare in advance.

The difference between a Watch and a Warning

Tropical Cyclone Watch: issued when gale-force winds may begin within 24–48 hours (usually updated every 6 hours).
Tropical Cyclone Warning: issued when gale-force winds are expected within 24 hours or have already begun (usually updated every 3 hours).

Cyclone preparation

Bring all objects that could be blown away — outdoor furniture, pot plants, bins — indoors or secure them firmly; in strong winds they become projectiles.
Reinforce windows with tape or shutters and check your gutters and roof.
Prepare an emergency kit for several days with water, food, medicine, a torch and a battery-powered radio.
Identify shelters and evacuation routes, and while the cyclone passes, stay in the strongest room indoors.

Install disaster apps + emergency kit

Install your state's official disaster app in advance

The most important advance preparation is to install the official app early and set up alerts (a watch zone). The app differs by state.

NSW: Hazards Near Me (combines flood, bushfire, storm and tsunami)
VIC: VicEmergency
QLD: local council dashboards + Get Ready Queensland; for storm and flood help, SES Assistance QLD
Nationwide: the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) app and website (weather, heatwave and cyclone warnings)

For other states, find the relevant app on your state's official SES/Emergency website.

Basic emergency kit contents

Bottled water and emergency food (several days' worth), prescription medicines
A torch, spare batteries and a battery-powered radio (for power outages), a power bank
A first-aid kit, and copies of important documents (passport, visa, insurance certificate) in a waterproof bag
A small amount of cash (in case card payments don't work), a list of emergency contacts
The evacuation place and way to contact each other agreed with family or housemates

It's okay even if English is difficult. Call the free interpreter service TIS National 131 450, state your language, and you can speak with government agencies and the SES through an interpreter. In an emergency, on 000 too you can say "I need an interpreter" to be connected to an interpreter.

Official source links

The information above is general guidance, and systems, phone numbers and apps may change. In a real situation, always check the latest information on the official site of your state's official agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

In an emergency, do I call 000 or 132 500?▾

If life is in danger, or someone is trapped in fire or water or injured, it is always 000 (Triple Zero). For help where life is not in immediate danger — a roof damaged by flood or storm, a tree blocking the road — it is the SES on 132 500. If you're unsure, remember: the more a life is at stake, the more it's 000.

Where do I check the Fire Danger Rating and what are the levels?▾

Since 2022 Australia has used 4 levels: Moderate (Green), High (Yellow), Extreme (Orange) and Catastrophic (Red). You can check it daily on roadside signs, your state's RFS/CFA app and site, and the news. On Catastrophic days even a well-prepared home cannot guarantee safety, so if you live in a high-risk area, leaving early is safest.

What do Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning each mean?▾

They are Australia's common 3-level warnings. Advice (Yellow) means 'be aware and stay alert', Watch and Act (Orange) means 'start taking action now', and Emergency Warning (Red) means 'act immediately (delay puts your life at risk)'. Levels can be skipped, so don't assume you're safe just because there was no Advice.

Can I understand warnings and get help even with poor English?▾

Yes. Call the free interpreter service TIS National 131 450, state your language, and you can speak with the government and the SES through an interpreter. In an emergency, on 000 too you can say "I need an interpreter" to be connected to one. Official apps and warnings also show danger with pictorial icons (colour inside a triangle), so you can gauge the level from the colour alone (yellow, orange, red).