Emergency Dashboard

Council has developed a public-facing platform that acts as a one-stop shop for essential information about the local area in times of disaster. By providing easy access to up-to-date information (e.g. road closures, weather updates, school closures, emergency warnings, etc.), this dashboard provides situational awareness to the North Burnett Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) and general community and serves as a tool for critical decision-making for the LDMG.

Visit the Emergency Dashboard at emergency.northburnett.qld.gov.au

Radio Stations

ABC Wide Bay is the region’s Emergency Radio Station.  It is vital that you tune in, in the event of an emergency.

• 855 kHz AM Wide Bay & Burnett 
• 100.1 mHz FM Wide Bay

Warnings and Alerts

Council utilises a suite of communication methods to issue warnings and alerts to the community, including:

• Disaster Dashboard;
• social media;
• radio and TV updates;
• media releases;
• face-to-face (i.e. door knocking); and,
• Emergency Alerts

Emergency Alert System

Emergency Alert is the national telephone-based emergency warning system capable of sending warning messages to fixed line telephones (i.e. landlines) and mobile phones.

The Emergency Alert system provides emergency service organisations and our Local Disaster Management Group with an effective way to warn communities in the event of an emergency, such as bushfire and extreme weather events.  For more information, please visit the Australian Government Emergency Alert website.

Prior to each cyclone season, Townsville residents need to develop a Household Emergency Plan that includes evacuation and shelter considerations based on their circumstances and exposure to risk.

Consider your shelter and evacuation options

• Shelter in Place – If you live in a well-constructed home located outside of an evacuation zone, your best option is to plan and prepare to shelter in place in your home with your family, friends and pets. It is important you identify the strongest, most protected part of your home to shelter in. This is usually the smallest room in the house with the least number of windows and external walls.
• Evacuate to Shelter in a Safer Place – If you are potentially at risk, your best option is to prearrange your evacuation so you can shelter in a safer place with friends or family. Consider commercial accommodation or shelter options in your community as a last resort.

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether you should shelter in place (i.e. at home or at work) or evacuate to a safer location. Certain events may come with additional risks that require you to evacuate.

The following are some handy rules of thumb depending on your situation and the type of disaster or emergency:

• Riverine flooding – stay with friends in high places;
• Bushfire – if you are going to leave, leave early;
• Hazardous material accident – stay upwind or stay inside;
• Dam release – get out and move to higher ground quickly.

Types of evacuation

There are several types of evacuation that may occur depending on the type of disaster or emergency, including:

• Self-evacuation: No formal authority required, you can choose to self-evacuate at any time if you don’t feel safe. But please let someone know that you are evacuating and where you are going.
• Voluntary evacuation: The Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) in consultation with the District Disaster Coordinator will ask people in a particular area to voluntarily evacuate if there is a threat developing. This lets people know they are in a potential danger area and allows them ample time to make a considered decision about whether to leave.
• Directed evacuation: The District Disaster Coordinator will issue a directed (mandatory) evacuation order when there is a definitive threat to life. You are legally bound to follow this direction and leave.

  All people in the areas defined in the directed evacuation order must follow given directions. The District Disaster Coordinator has the power to enforce the order. This power may be delegated to authorised officers in the field who will conduct the evacuation. Do not ignore this advice – the decision to issue an evacuation notice is not taken lightly.

  At this stage, Council will advise what evacuation centres will be opened.

Shelters and Evacuation Centres

Council has agreement to use a number of buildings throughout the North Burnett region within its disaster management processes and plans as pre- and/or post-impact centres.

Tips for when you evacuate:

• Ensure you turn off electricity, gas and water and that your property is locked and secure.
• Tie a light coloured cloth to your front door, letterbox, fence or other highly visible area. This will inform emergency services you have already evacuated and they do not need to expend valuable time checking.
• Notify a family member or friend outside of the threat area that you have evacuated and where you are going. Get this person to advise other family and friends.
• Make arrangements for your pets.
• Remember to take your emergency kit with you.