Townsville City Council utilises the Queensland Government Emergency Alert Service.
Emergency Alert is the national telephone based emergency warning system that:
- Sends messages via landlines based on the location of the handset, and
- mobile phones based on an individual’s billing address.
The system provides emergency service organisations with another way to warn communities in the event of an emergency such as bushfire and extreme weather events.
It is important that communities do not rely on receiving a message; individuals and communities must still prepare themselves in case of an emergency. Please check other areas of this website for further information on preparing for extreme weather events.
For more information please visit the Queensland Government Emergency Alert Service website.
Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS)
The Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) is a wailing siren sound used throughout Australia to warn people of a disaster or major emergency.
The SEWS is intended solely as an alert signal to be played through the media to gain the attention of the public. When you hear the SEWS you should listen carefully to the message that follows, and act immediately on any advice given.
The Standard Emergency Warning Signal may by used to notify the public of any of the following events:
- Wind gusts greater than125 km/h (for example a tropical cyclone of category 2 or above)
- Storm tide greater than 0.5 m above Highest Astronomical Tide
- Large hail greater than 4cm in diameter
- Tornadoes
- Major flood, flash flood or dam break
- Intense rainfall leading to flash floods or landslides (1-6 hour rainfall total that is greater than a once in a 50 year event)
- Geohazards including effects of earthquakes or tsunami waves greater than 1 metre
- Major urban and rural fires
- Major pollution, hazardous material or bio-hazard emergencies
- Other major emergency situations.