Emergency warnings and information

The Australian Warning System (AWS) aims to deliver consistent warnings, so no matter where you are in Australia, the emergency warning levels, colours and symbols are the same.

What are the warning levels?

Each warning level has a set of action statements. Below are some action statements you might see with a warning.

Advice (Yellow)

An incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.

• An incident is active but there is no immediate threat to lives or homes. Be aware and keep up to date.
• Prepare now.
• Stay informed.
• Monitor conditions.
• Stay informed/threat is reduced.
• Avoid the area.
• Return with caution.
• Avoid smoke.

Watch and Act (Orange)

There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.

• There is a possible threat to lives or homes. Take action now to protect yourself and others.
• Prepare to leave/evacuate.
• Leave/evacuate now (if you are not prepared).
• Prepare to take shelter.
• Move/stay indoors.
• Stay near shelter.
• Walk two or more streets back.
• Monitor conditions as they are changing.
• Be aware of ember attacks.
• Move to higher ground (away from creeks/rivers/coast).
• Limit time outside (cyclone, heat asthma).
• Avoid the area.
• Stay away from damaged buildings and other hazards.
• Prepare for isolation.
• Protect yourself against the impacts of extreme heat.
• Do not enter flood water.
• Not safe to return.
• Prepare your property (cyclone/storm).

Emergency Warning (Red)

An Emergency Warning is the highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.

• There is a threat to lives and homes. You may be in danger and need to take immediate action.
• Leave/evacuate (immediately, by am/pm/hazard timing).
• Take shelter now.
• Shelter indoors now.
• Too late to leave.
• Leave/evacuate (immediately, by am/pm/hazard timing).
• Take shelter now.
• Shelter indoors now.