National Emergency Management Agency

30/08/2026

Thinking about flying your drone near a disaster? Think again.

Flying a drone near a bushfire or emergency operation prevents firefighting and rescue operations. 🛩️

Firefighting aircraft require clear airspace to carry out the critical job of controlling fires and saving lives.

If you fly your drone near emergency operations, you will force first responders to land, increasing risks to the safety of others.

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

When an emergency happens, knowing where to get timely, accurate information can make all the difference.

In Australia, ABC Emergency provides regular updates during emergencies like floods, bushfires, and cyclones. They also provide recovery information and support, including helplines, recovery websites, and advice on accessing assistance.

📻 In an emergency, your local ABC radio frequency will provide updates and 24-hour coverage. A battery-operated radio is an essential item for your household emergency kit, along with spare batteries. If the power or mobile reception goes out, your radio frequency can keep you informed. Write down your local ABC radio frequency and stick it to your radio. You can also program the frequency in your car.

💻 Follow your local ABC page, and local emergency service agencies for real-time updates.

📱 Bureau of Meteorology provide warnings and alerts about significant weather events. The BOM Weather app is a trusted source which provides live, local forecasts and warnings. You can sign up for warning notifications and alerts direct to your phone through the app.

In an emergency, use a mix of trusted sources, including local radio, official websites, social media, and emergency warnings, to stay informed and make safe decisions.

26/08/2026

Are you looking for information to better protect your home from disasters? 👀

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

Why did some AusAlert's appear under a different label during the national test?

Some older devices may show alerts using different labels such as ‘Presidential Alert’, ‘Extreme Threat Alert’ or ‘Severe Threat Alert’.

The likely reason for this is because you have an older device or it uses an alternate operating system.

If you receive an AusAlert that appears under a different label, the content of the alert will be the same. Remember to follow any instructions included in the alert.

Don’t forget to always install the latest software updates on your device so you’re ready to receive AusAlerts. ✅

21/08/2026

Did you catch us at the AFAC News Conference 2026? 👀

This week, AFAC26 brought together emergency management professionals from across Australia to talk all things disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and resilience.

From conversations about AusAlert to the National Emergency Management Stockpile, AFAC26 was an opportunity to share insights, hear ideas from attendees, and come together to help build a more disaster resilient Australia.

At the heart of every discussion was a shared goal: helping communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

20/08/2026

Disasters can happen anytime, often with little warning.

Bushfires, floods, and tropical cyclones are most common during the Higher Risk Weather Season between October and April.

Having an emergency plan is a critical step to ensuring you and your household know what to do when a disaster strikes. Your plan should include information like:

🚗 How and when you will leave: Know your local evacuation routes and identify a safe place to go.

🏡 Where you can stay: Plan alternative accommodation, such as with family, friends or at an evacuation centre.

📱 Who you need to contact: Keep a written list of important contacts, including emergency services, neighbours, family, schools, and vets.

🎒 What you will take: Your emergency kit should have essentials like food, water, medications, a first aid kit, torch, battery operated radio, important documents, and clothing.

🐕 What to do with your pets: Include pets in your emergency planning to help keep them safe. Have a plan for where they can go, and pack pet essentials in your emergency kit.

📻 How you will get information: Find your local ABC listen emergency broadcast frequency and stick it on your battery-operated radio and program the frequency in your car.

Check Bureau of Meteorology for weather warnings and download your local emergency service apps for alerts and updates.

Every household is different. Think about your situation, risks in your local area, and what assistance your family may need during an emergency.

20/08/2026

Hear us out.

So instead of a missing clownfish we tracked sawfish and snake‑necked turtles after monsoonal flooding – with scientists doing the searching, not a frantic fish dad.

Fast‑moving floodwaters can shift sediment, alter habitat, and even help invasive species sdlip into new territory. After floods hit Queensland’s Gulf Savannah during the 2022-23 disaster season, the impacts went beyond land.

Scientists needed a smart and safe way to check how the underwater locals were coping.

To do that, scientists used environmental DNA (eDNA), analysing genetic material like scales, mucus and skin cells to see which species had moved through the rivers during and after the floods.

And unlike Dory, the river remembered and scientists found:
🐟 Largetooth sawfish: still cruising through the Leichhardt River.
🐢 Northern snake‑necked turtles: chilled out like Crush in the Norman River.
🚫 No Mozambique tilapia, meaning they didn’t “just keep swimming” into
new waterways.

With a baseline dataset now established, scientists can track how species distributions change over time and monitor the ecological impacts of future floods.

Turns out they weren’t finding Nemo, but they found some happy sawfish and snake‑necked turtles right where they should be.

📸 Queensland Environment

19/08/2026

In celebration of World Photography Day, we invited Team NEMA to share a photo of what home means to them in support of this year’s theme. 📸

For some, home is where they live today. For others, it’s a place rich with memories, family connections and a strong sense of community. 🥰

From coastlines and country towns to mountains and city skylines, these are just a few of the special places that Team NEMA feel connected, grounded, inspired and at peace. 👇