The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will be testing the new AusAlert emergency alert system at 10:30am AEST on Wednesday 10 June in Duffy.
AusAlert is a new national warning system that uses the latest technology to send emergency messages to compatible mobile devices, such as mobile phones and some tablets and smart watches, within a specified area. It’s a fast and reliable way to help people be informed and better prepared during local and national emergencies, such as natural hazards like bushfires, floods, cyclones and tsunamis, security threats, public health emergencies and biosecurity incidents.
If you’re near Duffy and surrounding areas at this time, you may receive an AusAlert test message, which may cause your mobile device to vibrate and make a loud siren-like warning sound that lasts about 10 seconds. The alert test message will clearly say it is a test and no action is required.
This geotargeted testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it need to be used in an emergency. There will also be a nationwide test on Monday 27 July.
If receiving an AusAlert test alert might disrupt you or cause you or someone you know to feel unsafe, you can choose to opt out. Visit ausalert.gov.au to find out how. You can also turn off your mobile devices or switch them to aeroplane mode before the scheduled test time and leave them off for at least one hour.
In an actual disaster, an AusAlert message will tell you:
- what the emergency is
- where it is happening
- how serious it is
- what you should do
- who the message is from
- where to find more information.
