During a disaster
Always call 000 for life-threatening emergencies.
When to call Triple Zero (000)
You should only call 000 when:
- someone is seriously injured or in need of urgent medical help
- your life or property is being threatened
- you have just witnessed a serious accident or crime
When to call the NSW State Emergency Service (SES)
If you require assistance due to flood, storm and tsunami emergencies, please phone NSW SES on 132 500.
If you are unsure of when and why to call the NSW SES, click here for more information.
Bushfire advice and warnings
Flood advice and warnings
Storm advice and warnings
Local weather warnings
Weather plays an important part in natural disasters. Monitor your local weather warnings, visit the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) NSW warnings website, or download the BOM app.
Information on rainfall and river heights can also be found at the Bellingen Weather website.
Emergency Broadcaster
Tune in to the emergency radio broadcaster, ABC Local radio on 92.3FM or 738AM. In fires or storms power or mobile networks may be down, so a battery-operated radio is a good back-up for updates.
Emergency Alert warning system
Emergency Alert is the national telephone warning system used by emergency services to send voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobile phones within a defined area about potential emergencies.
Emergency Alert is just one way of warning communities and will not be used in all circumstances. Emergency Alert relies on telecommunications networks to send messages, and message delivery cannot be guaranteed. For more information, click here.
Other contacts
- Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000
- Essential Energy – 132 080 (Faults and Emergencies) and 132 391 (General Enquiries)
- Health Direct – 1800 022 222
- NSW Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511
- NSW RFS Bushfire Information Line – 1800 679 737
- Poisons Information – 13 11 26
- State Emergency Services General Enquiries – (02) 4251 6111
How to find an evacuation centre
In an emergency situation you can go to an evacuation centre for shelter and assistance. Find your nearest evacuation centre on the:
The NSW Government website provides more detailed information evacuation centres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I obtain sandbags?
During a disaster event sandbags can be obtained from your local SES unit, not Council.
Outside of a disaster event, sandbags should be obtained from your local hardware store and filled with sand from your local landscape or quarry supplies provider.
Visit the SES website for more information.
Where will an evacuation centre be set up?
Any decision to open an evacuation centre will be broadcast to the community through local media channels. You can your nearest evacuation centre on the SES website or the Rural Fire Service (RFS) website.
Information will also be made available through Council's website or listen to the emergency radio broadcaster for the locations.
How can I help?
Check in with your neighbours and friends and offer support at your local level.
Take some time to check on those more vulnerable neighbours who may not be signed up to receive alerts or have internet access. They may need assist to evacuate or a phone call to see what they are needing.
Volunteer
Become a volunteer prior to any event and support your local Community or Neighbourhood Centre.
Sign up to volunteer with a local organisation before an emergency event to help with emergency relief. Organisations will be able to provide training (including WH&S) and answer questions and this isn’t always possible in the middle of a disaster response.
Register with Emergency Support Volunteering and your details will be passed on to organisations needing assistance.
Become an emergency services volunteer
Donations
Money can help empower people and provide choice at a time when community feel overwhelmed. This can enable a self-directed recovery and meet the immediate and longer term recovery needs of community. It also supports with local economic recovery as donations are spent locally.
Consider connecting with your local organisations or charities.
Who is the emergency radio broadcaster?
ABC Radio is the emergency radio broadcaster. Listen on FM 92.3.
Additional updates will also be provided by 2BBB (FM 93.3 and 107.3).
For the latest nearby fire, flood and traffic incidents, power and water outages, radio and social feeds, visit the Disaster Dashboard.
