Fire in the landscape
Schools must maintain situational awareness and monitor emergency warnings throughout the bushfire season, putting their emergency management plan (EMP) into action when needed.
Emergency warnings give information and advice about immediate danger during emergencies like bushfire, floods and storms. The information in an emergency warning can help schools understand what actions to take in their emergency management plan.
Schools can get information in an emergency via the:
- VicEmergency website(opens in a new window) or VicEmergency app (Google)(opens in a new window) or VicEmergency app (Apple)(opens in a new window)
- Emergency broadcasters – such as ABC radio and other local radio stations
- VicEmergency Hotline – 1800 226 226
- Official social media channels of emergency services and government agencies.
Emergency warnings and school actions
There are 3 levels of emergency warnings – Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning. These levels escalate in severity.
Advice messages
Advice messages are issued when an incident is occurring or has occurred in the area(s). Schools should access information and monitor conditions.
Watch and Act
An emergency is developing nearby. Schools may need to take action to protect staff and students, and must follow any directions given by emergency services.
Report the emergency to the Incident Support and Operations Centre by calling 1800 126 126.
Schools must contact their regional emergency management contact to decide what to do, noting that at times due to communication failures because of the emergency this may not be possible. If the emergency management contact can’t be reached, schools must contact their senior education improvement leader. If unable to contact the department, consider the following when determining next steps:
- transport and road closures/congestion
- communication to families
- fire behaviour and weather conditions.
Emergency Warning
An Emergency Warning is issued when there is imminent danger. Schools will need to take action to protect their staff and students.
Schools must call 000 for life threatening emergencies and follow the directions of emergency services.
Schools must enact their bushfire response procedures. This may include enacting the school’s shelter-in-place or evacuation procedures immediately.
After taking immediate actions, report the emergency to the Incident Support and Operations Centre (1800 126 126).
Schools must contact their regional emergency management contact to decide what to do next, noting that at times due to communication failures because of the emergency this may not be possible. If the emergency management contact can’t be reached, schools must contact their senior education improvement leader. If unable to contact the department, consider the following when determining the next steps:
- transport and road closures/congestion
- communication to families
- fire behaviour and weather conditions.
AusAlert
AusAlert(opens in a new window) is a national warning system that sends emergency messages to compatible mobile devices during local and national disasters.
If schools receive an AusAlert (priority or critical message), schools must take action as required to protect the safety of staff and students. Follow the advice provided for ‘Watch and Act’ and ‘Emergency Warnings’ as applies to the situation, using further information from VicEmergency to support decision making.
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