Helping communities prepare for the higher risk weather season

As we enter the higher risk weather season, AIDR has compiled a collection of resources that can help Australian communities understand their risks, prepare for and stay safe in the event of a disaster. We encourage you to share these resources far and wide.

Understanding hazards and disaster risk

Understanding hazards: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/collections/understanding-hazards/

Disaster Risk Reduction: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/collections/disaster-risk-reduction/

AFAC Seasonal Bushfire Outlook – Spring 2024: https://www.afac.com.au/docs/default-source/bushfire-seasonal-outlook/spring-2024/afac-seasonal-bushfire-outlook_spring-2024.pdf

Big Weather and how to survive it: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/big-weather/

CSIRO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT74khAyvqQ&t=4s

Australian Disaster Resilience Index: https://adri.bnhcrc.com.au/#!/

Communicating disaster risk and warnings

ABC Emergency: https://www.abc.net.au/emergency

ABC Radio provides regular updates during emergencies like bushfires, flood and cyclone. To find out how to listen to ABC radio during an emergency, click here.

Australian Waning System (AWS):

The AWS is used across Australia by state emergency agencies to communicate warnings and instructions to communities during emergencies like bushfire, flood, cyclone, severe weather and extreme heat.

The AWS has 3 warning levels with a consistent set of colour-coded icons. Hazard - Advice (yellow), Watch and Act (orange) and Emergency Warning (red).

Each warning level is supported by a set of action statements to tell people what they need to do to be safe from an emergency. For example, ‘move to higher ground,’ ‘shelter indoors now,’ and ‘stay informed.’

People across Australia can access AWS warnings through different digital platforms in each State and Territory.

ACT: https://esa.act.gov.au

NSW: https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app

NT: https://pfes.nt.gov.au/online-services/nt-public-safety-app

QLD: https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/aws
https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/Incident-Dashboard
https://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings

SA: https://www.alert.sa.gov.au/

Tas: https://alert.tas.gov.au/?view=both
https://alert.tas.gov.au/about-app

WA: https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/index.html

VIC: https://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

For children and young people: https://ausws.emergency.vic.gov.au/index.html

Emergency+ app: https://www.emergencyplus.com.au/

The app uses the GPS functionality of smart phones to enable callers to provide emergency operators with their location. Latitude and longitude details can be relayed to an emergency operator as well as an address and suburb details.

Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS)

The AFDRS describes the potential level of threat and what people need to do to stay safe if a bushfire starts.

It uses four rating levels, each with a message to encourage people to take action to protect themselves and others in the face of bushfire risk.

The fire danger rating levels are:

moderate (green): plan and prepare
high (yellow): prepare to act
extreme (orange): take action now to protect your life and property
catastrophic (red): for your survival, leave bush fire risk areas.

Fire danger information may be broadcast on television and radio, printed in newspapers, on roadside signs, and in social media, apps and websites.

AFAC hosts introductory eLearning resources for communities, intermediate training for fire and land management professionals, and advanced training courses for fire behaviour analysts and meteorologists here.

Australian Fire Danger Rating System: https://afdrs.com.au/

Community resources: https://www.afac.com.au/initiative/afdrs/community-resources

AFDRS overview: https://www.afac.com.au/initiative/afdrs/afdrs-overview

AFDRS play school resource: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/media/9603/afdrs-early-childhood-quick-guide.pdf

FAQs: https://www.afac.com.au/initiative/afdrs/afdrs-faqs

For additional technical information, resources are available on the AFAC webpage. Please contact afdrs@afac.com.au if you require any further information.

Planning and preparing for emergencies

Emergency planning tools for households, businesses, local governments, schools and assurance tools: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/emergency-planning-tools/

Disability-inclusive emergency planning: https://collaborating4inclusion.org/diep/

Planning Evacuations with Indigenous Communities: https://www.aidr.org.au/media/11031/aidr_indigenous_evacuation_companion.pdf

Working with Indigenous Peoples and Communities: https://firetoflourish.monash/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/3690459/Working-with-Indigenous-people-fact-sheet-20240611.pdf

Gender and Emergency Management Guidelines and Checklist: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/national-gender-and-emergency-management-guidelines/

Checklist to review an emergency plan (AIDR 2020): https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/emergency-planning-handbook/

Emergency disaster planning to support people with disability and their support networks: https://www.flagstaffgroup.com.au/helpful-tools/

Flagstaff has developed a number of tools to support people with disability and their support networks plan, act and be resilient when an emergency occurs. These tools are free to use and encourage every individual to have an emergency plan.

Guidance for households

Emergency preparedness guide, including a disaster preparedness quiz: https://www.redcross.org.au/prepare/

What you need in your emergency kit for cyclones and severe weather: https://www.abc.net.au/emergency/what-you-need-in-your-cyclone-emergency-kit/102612154

What to do if there's a bushfire while you're travelling: https://www.abc.net.au/emergency/be-prepared-for-emergencies-on-holiday/13003114

How to prepare for travel in a bushfire-prone region: https://www.abc.net.au/emergency/how-to-prepare-for-travel-in-a-bushfire-prone-region/102666992

Staying well during a heatwave: https://www.abc.net.au/emergency/how-to-cope-during-a-heatwave/102552780

What preparations should I make for my pets in case of an emergency? https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-preparations-should-i-make-for-my-pets-in-case-of-an-emergency/

Who should I contact about injured wildlife? https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/who-should-i-contact-about-injured-wildlife/

National Wildlife Rescue Hotline: https://wildliferescue.net.au/

Looking after animals in a heatwave: https://www.abc.net.au/emergency/looking-after-animals-in-a-heatwave/102581164

5 point legal checklist (from VIC but very broad advice): https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/five-point-legal-checklist-get-victorians-disaster-ready

Disaster Legal Support Resource Hub: https://justiceconnect.org.au/disasters/

Guidance for educators, families and kids

Children and young people have unique capabilities to help protect themselves and their communities from the impacts of natural hazards. Providing them with knowledge, skills and opportunities to share their learning and take action, enables them to contribute positively to the safety and resilience of people, places and the natural environment.

Connect with disaster resilience professionals for trusted information, advice and resources. Browse agencies in your local area: https://schools.aidr.org.au/disaster-resilience-education/connect-and-collaborate/

Explore resources for parents and caregivers, educators across early learning, primary and secondary, and emergency services: https://schools.aidr.org.au/disaster-resilience-education/teaching-resources/#/

Helping Hands Disaster Resilience Tool Kit: https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/early-education/helping-hands-disaster-resilience-tool-kit

Birdie's Tree disaster resilience resources: https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/our-work/birdies-tree-natural-disaster-recovery/birdies-tree-natural-disaster-resilience-resources

How to look after your baby in a heatwave: https://theconversation.com/5-expert-tips-on-how-to-look-after-your-baby-in-a-heatwave-216906

How to talk to kids about bushfire risks:

Teachers’ Guide Years 4–7 Building Disaster Resilience in Young People - Cyclone and Flood: https://publications.dfes.wa.gov.au/publications/cyclone-and-flood-teacher-guide

Australian Red Cross Pillowcase Workshops: https://www.redcross.org.au/pillowcase-workshops/

BeYou: https://beyou.edu.au/responding-to-natural-disasters

Youth Engagement Resource Platform: https://www.yacvic.org.au/yerp/youth-participation-in-action/youth-disaster-resilience/

Community trauma toolkit: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/toolkits/community-trauma-toolkit/