Respond

When an emergency event occurs, you may not get any warning. It is important to follow the steps identified in your Emergency Management and Recovery Plan or similar, to assist in the immediate response as well as the longer-term recovery of your business.

For life-threatening emergencies call 000

In responding to an emergency, you should consider:

  • The health and safety of staff and customers should be the first priority
  • Follow advice and cooperate with authorities
  • Monitor weather warnings and road closures - use common sense as well as reliable information
  • Wear protective clothing
  • Clear drainage systems
  • Undertake sandbagging (including toilet bowl and waste-water outlets)

Evacuate

  • Secure or relocate equipment, stock and hazardous substances
  • Turn off electricity and gas
  • Take Evacuation Kit
  • Display a sign for customers / activate answering machine or divert phones
  • Secure premises

Only return to your premises when safe to do so.

  • Check your property for damage before entering
  • Photograph or video any damage prior to cleaning up
  • Engage professionals to inspect property for damage (including electrical and gas)
  • Contact insurance provider
  • Throw away contaminated food

VicEmergency App

The VicEmergency app is the official Victorian Government app for access to community information and warnings for all types of emergencies in Victoria.

Victorian State Emergency Service (SES)

Call 132 500 from anywhere in Victoria for flood, storm, tsunami and earthquake emergency. For life-threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000).

VicEmergency Hotline

The VicEmergency Hotline provides information during and after major bushfire incidents. It also offers information to help householders, landowners and small businesses reduce bushfire risk.

In a situation where you can see or smell smoke, VicEmergency Hotline can advise whether or not a planned burn is in progress.

To report a fire or emergency, phone Triple Zero (000)

VicEmergency Hotline: call 1800 226 226

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, you can contact VicEmergency Hotline through National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.

If you don't speak English, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Business Victoria

Business Victoria has a range of resources aimed at assisting business owners to plan and manage business disruptions including emergency and illness.

Australian Government Business website

Managing your business in an emergency allows you to prepare for possible risks, take proper actions and recover.

Emergency management is about adapting your business to changes in its environment and being resilient enough to withstand a time of crisis.

There is plenty of advice and support to help you plan for an emergency on the Australian Government's Business website.

Bureau of Meteorology

Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.

Road Closures

For the latest list of road closures visit the VicRoads website or call 13 11 70.

Animal Welfare

Agriculture Victoria
Agriculture Victoria provide a range of bushfire and recovery advice and support on animal health and welfare, pasture management, pest plants and animal control, erosion protection, livestock feed planning, crop and horticulture management and reforestation. Wildlife can be injured during bushfires. Agriculture Victoria works with suitably qualified and experienced wildlife care organisations and rehabilitators to assist with the recovery, treatment, rehabilitation and release of wildlife affected by fire.

RSPCA Emergency Assistance on 03 9224 2222

Emergency Broadcasters

The Victorian government has formal arrangements with a number of media outlets to broadcast emergency warnings and information to the community.

During emergencies, the stations listed in the link below, as well as SKY NEWS television (including website), will broadcast information which will help you make decisions based on the advice of emergency services.

  • ABC Local 97.7 FM
  • Triple M Goulburn Valley 95.3 FM
  • Hit Goulburn Valley 96.9 FM

Additional Contacts

Grants and Support

Wellbeing Support

School and Child Care Closures

Department of Education and Training

Power Outages

The Victorian Government has produced a guide to coping with power outages, including information on food safety.