Emergency Alerts
An emergency alert is the national telephone-based system that the State Disaster Coordination Centre use to send messages to landlines and mobile phones to warn people of dangerous weather and possible severe impacts. The decision to send an emergency alert is based on certainty, severity, timeframe, frequency and action. You do not need to register to receive an emergency alert.
Emergency alert messages are sent from: +61 444 444 444. You should add this number to your mobile and save it as a 'favourite'. These messages are not a scam and are official text messages from the Queensland State Disaster Coordination Centre as part of the national geo-targeting emergency alert system. If you receive an emergency alert and want more information, follow the instructions in the message.
For more information on emergency alerts, visit the official Emergency Alert website.
Australian Warning System
In 2023, Queensland adopted the Australian Warning System (AWS), ensuring consistency and ease of understanding for disaster alerts across the country. Warnings now feature:
- Hazard icons to indicate the type of danger
- Warning levels and colours to signify the severity of the threat
For more details on these icons, visit the Australian Warning System website.
Emergency Alerts vs Warnings
Emergency Alerts are issued when severe weather is actively occurring in your area. If you receive one, act immediately to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Weather Warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology provide advanced notice of potential hazards, allowing you to prepare and make informed decisions before a disaster strikes.
Flood Sirens in Leyburn and Killarney
From February 2025, the flood warning systems in Leyburn and Killarney are changing. Both flood sirens are being decommissioned and will be replaced by the Emergency Alert system - a faster and more dependable method.
For more information, read the media release.
