National Emergency Management Agency

14/10/2026

Residents and visitors on Queensland’s Magnetic Island can once again cross Gustav Creek in Nelly Bay on the new Sooning Street Bridge. 🚗

18 months after the former crossing was severely damaged during the 2024-25 disaster season, the new Sooning Street Bridge has been built to better withstand future weather events.

Constructed with more than 3,200 tonnes of concrete, steel, and asphalt, including 340 metres of concrete piles and nearly 1,400 tonnes of bridge deck components. The 38-metre crossing delivers a durable new connection built to support the community for years to come. 🚧

The bridge has also been designed to meet strict environmental standards, with fishways incorporated into the finished build to support the island’s marine ecosystem. 🐠

This project was funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government through the joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

📸: Townsville City Council

13/10/2026

1989 was a pretty big year. 📅

Taylor Swift was born. The first Gameboy hit shelves. Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. 👾

And on 13 October, the United Nations established what we now celebrate as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).

IDDRR encourages governments, emergency services, businesses, community organisations, and individuals around the globe to consider the role they play in understanding risk and preparing for disasters.

The 2026 theme for IDDRR is ‘Resilience Starts at Home’. Resilient homes keep people safe, connected, and secure. No matter what home looks like to you – protecting it starts long before a disaster strikes. 🏡

Find out how we're helping Australians protect what matters most to them through national coordination, preparedness, and long-term investment in resilience at the link in our comments. 🔗

11/10/2026

If your name is Owen, Peta, Riordan, Sandra, Tim, Victoria, Zane, Alessia, Bruce, Catherine, Dylan or Edna, raise your hand! 🤚

What do all these names have in common? This is the list of approved names for Tropical Cyclones in Australia for the 2026-27 Higher Risk Weather Season. 🌀

The Bureau of Meteorology name tropical cyclones to help avoid confusion if there's more than one happening at the same time. To find out more, visit the link in our comments.

10/10/2026

Motorists will now be able to travel in both directions of the Kuranda Range Road in Far North Queensland. 🚗

A large and complex landslip was caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper in 2023. Nearly 3 stories deep, it required extensive reconstruction works to stabilise the slope, rebuild the roadway and reinstate the damaged lane.

Construction included more than 20 truckloads of rockfill, 15 truckloads of shotcrete, 1.5km of soil nails and enough geomat to cover around one-and-a-half tennis courts. 🚧

This project was funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

All remaining cyclone-damaged sites along Kuranda Range Road are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, weather permitting. Repairs will continue until mid-2027 on a further 2 sites damaged by heavy rainfall during the North and Far North Tropical Low in February 2025.

📸: Transport and Main Roads Queensland

07/10/2026

A sudden jolt. Rattling windows. Shaking ground. What happens next? 🫨

07/10/2026

In August, France experienced its worst fire season in over 70 years.

Battling devastating wildfires in hot and dry conditions, with strained emergency response resources and mass evacuations underway, the French Government called for assistance – and the Australian Government was ready to respond. 💪

NSW Rural Fire Service rapidly deployed specialist firefighting capabilities, including a CH-47D Chinook helicopter and a Bell 412 reconnaissance and support aircraft, accompanied by 24 highly skilled aerial and ground crew. 🚁

We worked closely with Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence Australia to transport the aircraft to France. As part of that effort, we deployed a liaison officer to help coordinate Australia's response.

This was Australia's first operational emergency response deployment to Europe, strengthening international partnerships while providing valuable lessons to enhance Australia's own preparedness and response capabilities.

Learn more about this deployment, and how international partnerships help strengthen Australia's own preparedness and response arrangements at the link in our comments.

L'Australie en France 🤝

03/10/2026

The NSW SES has received more than 180 calls for assistance on Saturday (to 6pm) as severe thunderstorms moved across the state, including in Ulladulla where a mini tornado impacted the C*D. 🌪️ ☔️

Severe weather is causing heavy rainfall and damaging winds in Greater Sydney this evening, and NSW SES teams are responding to calls for assistance.

These thunderstorms could bring flash flooding with isolated heavy rainfall totals up to 100mm possible.

🚗 Communities are urged to steer clear of floodwater. If you come across a flooded road, turn around and find an alternative route.

📷 In Ulladulla, NSW SES crews and partner emergency service personnel are responding to nearly 30 calls for assistance as a mini tornado blew roofs off properties and downed trees and powerlines. People are urged to keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines and report any damage to the NSW SES.

📲 Stay across the latest warnings and advice by downloading the Hazards Near me app or visiting the NSW SES website.

If you need assistance during storms and floods, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In a life-threatening emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).

03/10/2026

No weekend plans? Why not earn some gold stars and do some maintenance jobs around your home? ⭐

When disasters strike, you may have little or no time to prepare. Knowing the risks for your local area and being prepared is the best thing you can do to protect your home and property.

A few things you can do this weekend that would make a big difference during a disaster include:

🍂 Clear leaves and debris from gutters, downpipes, and drains so water can flow away freely.

🌱 Mow grass and remove the cuttings to reduce fuel loads and possible fire intensity near your home.

🪾 Cut back tree branches that hang over your roof or near power lines.

💨 Tie down heavy outdoor items like trampolines, furniture, and barbecues.

🏡 Check that your windows and doors seal properly and get any broken windows repaired.

🚿 Learn how to safely turn off your home’s power, water, and gas to prevent damage to yourself and your property during severe weather.

02/10/2026

01/10/2026

We know that disasters like bushfires, floods and tropical cyclones can occur at any time, but they are more likely to happen between October and April each year. 📅

This period is called the Higher Risk Weather Season (HRWS), and it officially starts today.

At our National Preparedness Summit in September, the Bureau of Meteorology shared their latest seasonal outlook for the first half of the 2026–27 HRWS. It included:

🌡️ An increased likelihood of unusually warm daytime and overnight temperatures across the southern two-thirds of Australia during September, October, and November.

🌧️ Below average spring rainfall in parts of southern and eastern Australia, but above average spring rainfall across much of the western half of Australia.

☀️ Warmer-than-average days and nights nationwide from November through to January.

☔ Above-average rainfall likely across much of Australia during November to January. But below-average rainfall likely across Far North Queensland and Tasmania over the same period.

🌊 Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures along Australia's south-eastern coastline, which may increase the frequency and intensity of storms and heavy rainfall in coastal areas.

💧 Flood risk in Tasmania, parts of northern Victoria and eastern South Australia due to saturated catchments and runoff potential.

In the lead-up to the HRWS, we have been working with all states and territories to improve disaster management arrangements, preparedness, and resilience efforts. 🤝

Being prepared is the best thing you can do to protect your household this HRWS. Know your risks, prepare an emergency plan, stock up your emergency kit and seek information from official sources. ✅