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How warnings work in Queensland
A warning tells you what's happening, where it is happening and what actions you need to take to stay safe. These following the Australian Warning System (AWS).
Common warnings you may see in Queensland include:
bushfire
storm
flood
cyclone
heatwave
And others are not so common:
Earthquake
Tsunami
Landslide
It explains the impact you can expect and gives clear advice on what to do next.
Different agencies issue warnings before, during and after an emergency, each through their own channels. When it counts, these warnings help you make the calls that keep you and your family safe.
Who issues the warning?
Queensland has clear rules about who's responsible for issuing warnings:
Local governments, referable dam owners and Maritime Safety Queensland issue warnings for severe weather, flood, cyclone and other hazards.
Queensland Fire Department issues bushfire warnings.
Queensland Health issues extreme heat warnings.
How this works with the Bureau of Meteorology
These warnings don't replace Bureau of Meteorology weather warnings, they work alongside them. The Bureau's warnings are based on the weather itself: what's happening in the atmosphere.
The other agencies' warnings tell you what that weather means for your community and what action to take.
Together, they give you the full picture so you know exactly what to do to stay safe.
Emergency Alert
Emergency Alert is the national system that sends warnings straight to you: a voice message to your landline, or a text to your mobile, if you're in an area facing a likely or actual emergency.
The Standard Emergency Warning Signal
You might have heard this before: a wailing siren sound used across Australia to grab your attention ahead of an urgent safety message.
It plays on radio and TV just before an emergency warning, like a cyclone warning, in areas that could be affected.
When you hear it, stop and listen: an important message is coming.
