Civil Defence Emergency Management Alerts and Warnings

Warnings and alerts are used to tell agencies, authorities, and/or the public about emergencies so they can take action.

Multi-channel approach

Warnings and alerts are used to tell agencies, authorities, and/or the public about emergencies so they can take action.

CDEM uses multiple channels to send warnings and alerts before and during emergencies.

No one channel will suit every situation or every person. So, multiple channels are used to make sure as many people as possible receive the information they need. This includes: radio and television, websites, social media and others such as apps and sirens.

Alerts and warnings can be sent both nationally and locally depending on the emergency.

National alerts and warnings

The National Emergency Management Agency is responsible for providing national warnings and alerts about natural hazards to local CDEM Groups, central government authorities, local authorities, emergency services, lifeline utilities, and broadcasters. This includes a formal agreement with national broadcast media. 

Emergency Mobile Alert

Emergency Mobile Alerts are messages about emergencies sent by authorised emergency agencies to capable mobile phones. The alerts are designed to keep people safe and are broadcast to all capable phones from targeted cell towers. 

Find out more about Emergency Mobile Alert

The National Warning System

The National Warning System is an online tool used by the National Emergency Management Agency to issue hazard alerts and warnings. These are then picked up by other agencies and relayed through a variety of channels.

Local alerts and warnings channels

Local CDEM Groups are collections of councils and territorial authorities responsible for civil defence emergency matters in their area.

CDEM Groups are responsible for relaying national alerts and warnings to their own communities via local warning systems. They can also initiate alerts about local threats (like floods).

When planning and using their alerting and warning systems, CDEM Groups take into account specific local circumstances such as geography or community needs. CDEM Groups make their own decisions when it comes to using channels such as social media, sirens and apps.