NATIONAL APPROACH
INTRODUCING THE AUSTRALIAN WARNING SYSTEM
The Australian Warning System is a new national approach to information and warnings for hazards such as bushfire, flood, storm, cyclone, extreme heat and severe weather. BY
ALANA BEITZ
AFAC
T
he Australian Warning System has been developed by the AFAC Warnings Group and is based on community research and input from Australia’s emergency service and hazard agencies. It was launched on 1 December for bushfires and over the next two to three years it will be progressively implemented for other hazard types around the country. A major study across the country saw more than 14,000 people surveyed or interviewed to help identify improvements to make warnings clearer and lead people to take action during hazard events. Basing the design of the Australian Warning System on this extensive research will ensure it is understood by, and resonates with, community members across the country. The system uses a nationally consistent set of icons to show incidents
on fire and emergency service agencies’ websites and apps, supported by calls to action. The three levels of warning— Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning—are accompanied by colourcoded icons—yellow, orange and red. They also come with clear calls to action to assist communities to act in response to an emergency event. Until now, there have been different warning systems for different hazard types across Australia. The new Australian Warning System aims to provide consistent warnings to Australian communities so that people know what to do when they see a warning level. Ms Reegan Key, Manager Operational Communications at Emergency Management Victoria, said the new system would keep communities safe and informed during emergencies. “Having consistent icons across borders this summer will make it much easier for the community to quickly
PHOTO:AFAC
Above: An example of the Australian Warning System icons on a map. The new icons will be implemented on emergency service agencies’ websites and apps.
understand what’s happening and the risk involved. The colours have been chosen to best reflect an escalating emergency, based on strong community testing and accessibility standards,” she said. The launch of the Australian Warning System aligns with the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements recommendation to “urgently deliver and implement the all-hazard Australian Warning System” across states and territories. Hazards are not bound by borders and the new system reflects this. The system will bring clarity and consistency for border communities and at times when the Australian population is more mobile— such as summer holidays, which overlap with Australia’s severe weather season. Having an all-hazards and nationally consistent warnings system also supports the community to make plans and take action for a variety of scenarios, explained Ms Key. ISSUE ONE 2021 FIRE AUSTRALIA
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