In an emergency it is essential to stay alert and keep informed.
In the event of an emergency, always dial 000. This will direct you to Ambulance, Fire, and Police.
The VicEmergency Hotline provides information during and after major incidents in Victoria. It also offers information to help householders, landowners, and small businesses plan for and recover from emergencies.
You can reach them by calling 1800 226 226.
Leave early
Put your plan in place – if you plan to leave early, leave early.
Alerts and warnings
Community alert sirens
Community alert sirens are used as part of Victoria’s warning system for all types of emergencies – including flood, fire, and storm. There are community alert sirens at the local CFA stations in Bright, Mount Beauty, and Myrtleford.
You need to listen to how long the siren sounds last, as it can mean two things:
- Short siren (up to 90 seconds) – indicates that the CFA Brigade has responded to an incident nearby. Stay informed.
- Extended siren (5 minutes) – indicates that a current emergency has been identified in the local area, and people should seek further information immediately. The emergency incident will impact people in this area.
The Australian Warning System
The Australian Warning System is a national approach to information and warnings for hazards like bushfire, flood, storm, cyclone, extreme heat, and severe weather.
There are three warning levels:
- Advice – an incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.
- Watch and Act – there is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing, and you need to start taking action now to protect yourself and your family.
- Emergency Warning – 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.
Keep ahead of news and information
In an emergency, stay aware and keep informed.
VicEmergency is the central place for warnings and information on all hazards, including fire, flood, storm, tsunami, earthquake, landslide, and more.
Always use more than one reputable source for warnings such as:
- ABC Radio
- Alpine FM
- Country Fire Authority (CFA)
- Commercial and designated radio stations
- Sky News
- Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES)
- Vic Emergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
You may also receive a phone warning via the National Emergency Alert System. Telephone Alerts are not used in all circumstances and depend on the nature of the incident. You should not wait to receive a Telephone Alert before you act.
Road closures
It’s important to stay informed of potential danger on roads when leaving your property so you can drive safely throughout the Alpine Shire during an emergency.
Bushfire Places of Last Resort
In the event of a bushfire, Alpine Shire has designated Bushfire Places of Last Resort. This differs from a relief centre.
Bushfire Places of Last Resort are purely places of last resort to provide shelter during the passage of a fire when all other personal survival plans have failed. They should not be relied on as part of an evacuation, relocation, or emergency plan.
Safety and survival cannot be guaranteed at these sites as support services are not provided. These locations will offer minimum protection against radiant heat and embers in a fire.
You can find the following Bushfire Places of Last Resort across the Alpine Shire:
| Town | Bushfire Place of Last Resort |
|---|---|
| Bright and Wandiligong | Pioneer Park Oval, Bright |
| Dederang | Dederang Memorial Hall |
| Harrietville | Harrietville Community Hall |
| Mount Beauty | Mount Beauty Sports Stadium |
| Myrtleford | Ablett Pavilion and RC McNamara Reserve Oval |
| Porepunkah | Porepunkah Hall and Oval |
| Tawonga | Tawonga Memorial Hall |
Emergency Relief Centres
Emergency Relief Centres provide the basic needs of people displaced by an emergency event.
Council establishes these Emergency Relief Centres on a short-term basis to provide temporary shelter, food, registration and related emergency assistance. Emergency Relief Centres may not open for every event.
The location of an Emergency Relief Centre is only advertised to the community after all details of the emergency are known.
Seek accommodation with family and friends first. This is a better option during an emergency as an Emergency Relief Centre may be crowded, noisy, hot or cold. It also ensures that those who need it most are accommodated.
Animals at an Emergency Relief Centre
There is likely to be minimal provision for animals at an Emergency Relief Centre. Please consider the following expectations:
- Make short-term accommodation arrangements for your pets, for example with friends or family outside of the affected area or at a boarding facility.
- All animals are to be under the control of their owner and confined to a cage or leash at all times.
- Council will assist where possible to provide short-term relocation of livestock and horses.