If you are in a life threatening situation, you should always call Triple Zero (000) for police, fire or ambulance.
The only way of contacting Triple Zero (000) is with a voice call – you cannot use SMS, email, instant messaging, video calling or social media to contact emergency services via Triple Zero (000).
Be prepared to describe your location as accurately as possible. Your mobile phone only shows the call-takers your billing address, not your current GPS location. And don’t hang up until the call taker tells you to.
The free Emergency+ App is a Triple Zero (000) smartphone app that provides key numbers for the emergency services and displays the GPS coordinates of your location so you can read it out to the emergency operator.
Ways to get warnings and information
During an emergency, there are a range of ways you can get warnings and information.
VicEmergency app
The VicEmergency app aligns with the VicEmergency website to provide a centralised location for Victorians to access timely emergency information and warnings.
The app includes warnings and incident notifications for fire, flood, storm, earthquake, tsunami, weather warnings, shark sightings, beach closures and more.
In order to receive location specific app alerts when warnings are issued or incidents occur, you need to set up your watch zones.
You can download VicEmergency from the App Store or Google Play.
For app support, please visit the VicEmergency Knowledge Base.
Social media
Follow VicEmergency on Facebook and Twitter for real-time warning notifications.
Radio and TV
During emergencies, Victoria’s emergency broadcasters will provide information, including updates and community alerts, to help you to make decisions based on the advice of the emergency services. If necessary, emergency warnings will interrupt normal programming on the radio and TV.
You can get this information from any of Victoria’s commercial radio stations, ABC local radio, a number of community stations and SkyNews TV. These are outlined further below and a list of the coverage areas can be downloaded via the Emergency Management Victoria website.
ABC Local Radio
Use the frequency finder for the right ABC frequency at your place or while you’re travelling. These can also be heard online and on the ABC Radio app.
SkyNews TV
Provide emergency information to their viewers through their;
- 24 hours TV channel
- Digital channel including crawlers and alerts
- Website at skynews.com.au
- SMS alert service to SkyNews subscribers
Community Broadcasters
There are ten official community Emergency Broadcasters that provide critical local information to their communities;
- 3MGB
- Alpine Radio
- Eastern FM
- Gippsland FM
- KLFM Bendigo
- Light FM
- Mansfield Community Radio
- Plenty Valley FM
- Stereo 974
- UGFM – Radio Murrindindi
VicEmergency Hotline
- Call 1800 226 226
- The VicEmergency Hotline provides information during and after major incidents in Victoria. It also offers information to help householders, landowners and small businesses plan for and recover from emergencies.
- In a situation where you can see or smell smoke, the VicEmergency Hotline can also advise whether or not a planned burn is in progress.
- If
you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, contact us
through the National Relay Service:
- TTY users phone 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 226 226
- Speak and Listen users phone 1800 555 727 then ask for 1800 226 226
- Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 1800 226 226
- If you don’t speak English call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 for translated information from the VicEmergency Hotline. If you know someone who can’t speak English, provide them with this number.
Information courtesy of Emergency Services Victoria
