The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has a dedicated ABC Emergency Website.
Here you can find information about preparing your community for an increase in fire and weather activity during the spring and summer months.
The website provides trusted and verified emergency information available across radio, online and social media.
How to Prepare for an Extreme Weather Event
With above-average temperatures forecast in the coming months, the ABC campaign provides important information on how to prepare for an extreme weather event.
Audiences will be reminded of the ABC’s role as an emergency broadcaster and the support it provides to affected communities.
This includes the ABC Emergency website, which has important information including:
- How to prepare for bushfires, floods, storms, cyclones and heatwaves.
- Easy-to-follow guides on packing an emergency survival kit and safeguarding your home.
- A link to set up your local ABC Radio station in ABC Listen and find your nearest radio frequency.
You’ll be able to use an interactive incident map. It aggregates information from key emergency and support services, including:
- rural and regional fire services
- state emergency services and
- the Bureau of Meteorology.
As a result, you will be able to check emergency events in your area as well as in other locations around the country. View the ABC Emergency Website.
If you are feeling anxious about friends or family who live in other parts of the country, then you can check their home locations on the map.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicts higher chances of above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall for almost the entire country over the coming months.
ABC Director News Justin Stevens said people should start their preparations today.
“Visit the ABC Emergency website today to prepare your emergency plan so you know what to do, where to go and who to contact when extreme weather strikes,” he said. “Know your local ABC Radio station and rest assured that the ABC will be here for you in an emergency.”
ABC’s Emergency Broadcasting team
The ABC recently expanded its Emergency Broadcasting team. It now operates 365 days a year and has members based around the country. Every summer the team expands to meet the increased demand. This year we have the biggest team ever.
Emergency broadcasting generally begins when there is a threat to life or property.
The ABC is also in discussions with our partners:
- for fire mitigation strategies around transmission towers
- investing in portable satellite terminals for news crews
These are some ways to ensure audiences can be kept updated in the event of infrastructure damage.
This communication campaign coincides with Red Cross Emergency Ready Week which runs from 18 – 24 September 2023.
For more information, view the ABC Emergency Website.
About the ABC
Launched in 1932, the ABC has become a much-loved part of Australian society and its cultural fabric. From a single radio service, the ABC has developed into a multi-platform media operation and a public broadcaster of international renown, delivering Australian stories and conversations across the nation and to the region.
The ABC Charter, set down by Parliament, requires the Corporation to provide informative, entertaining and educational services that reflect the breadth of our nation.