- Government's new Emergency WA app part of delivering world-class warning system
- New app delivers alerts and warnings straight to mobile devices
- Users can set notifications for up to 10 watch zones including home, work or school
Western Australians will have better access to lifesaving information with the launch of the new Emergency WA app, part of a $16 million investment from the Cook Government to develop a world-class warning system.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the new app was a powerful tool that delivered the fastest, most reliable access to alerts and warnings for hazards across the entire State.
The new Emergency WA app enables users to receive instant notifications for warnings, incidents and other alerts in up to 10 custom watch zones.
A 'read aloud' feature enables users to listen to warnings, while a 'listen live' button provides people with the ability to listen to their live local ABC emergency broadcast.
In a life-threatening emergency, users can call Triple Zero (000) from anywhere in the app.
The launch is the latest milestone in the Cook Government's $16 million Next Generation Warnings project to deliver a world-class emergency warning system in WA.
Emergency WA is managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). The new app follows the upgrade of the Emergency WA website and the implementation of the new Australian Warning System earlier this year.
Emergency WA is the State's official source for authoritative, accurate and timely emergency information with more than 30 million page views in the past 12 months and 102 million views since its launch in 2016.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"For almost a decade the community has used Emergency WA as a trusted source to stay informed and make lifesaving decisions during emergencies.
"Community safety is a priority for the Cook Government. Now with the launch of this new Emergency WA app it will significantly speed up the warning process, giving people more time to prepare for, and respond quickly to, an escalating situation.
"The new app enables people to customise their watch zones to include work, home, school addresses and more to be alerted to warnings with a radius of up to 100km.
"This app is a key part of the Cook Government's $16 million commitment to empower people with reliable and timely information to stay safe during an emergency.
"I encourage all Western Australians to download the Emergency WA app as well as have an emergency plan on how and where to go in case of an emergency, so nothing is left to chance."
As stated by Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
"Dangerous weather comes with the territory of living or travelling in WA and it's essential that everyone plays their part to stay informed and take action. The Emergency WA app will empower people to make informed decisions when it matters most.
"Emergency Warnings have already been issued for bushfires from Cervantes to Esperance, burning tens of thousands of hectares of land and blocking major highways and roads - and bushfire season has only just started.
"The Emergency WA app is a powerful tool to keep you and your family safe from natural disasters and other incidents, sending warnings straight to your mobile device with clear directions on what you need to do.
"And most importantly, it's essential to have an emergency plan and an emergency kit that includes a battery-operated radio to stay informed in case you lose phone reception or the battery goes flat."
