SOURCE: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare FETCHED: 2026-11-03 16:00 AEDT - - Plan and prepare | NSW SES - - - - - - - - - - - Skip to main content Show us how you prepare for storm season by entering our Stay Ahead of the Storm Challenge , with some great prizes up for grabs! Global Alert This is a Test Global Alert (Critical) Setup for visitors in any emergency Location. Create your emergency Plan close Close this alert Automatic language translation Our website uses an automatic service to translate our content into different languages. These translations should be used as a guide only. We may choose to keep content in English if we are not sure the translation will be accurate. For professionally translated planning, response and recovery information, visit our 'In your language' page. View ‘In your language’ resources close Close message # Plan and prepare ## Preparation lowers your risk Planning ahead means you're better protected in case of an emergency. Here’s how you can get prepared so you and your household know what to do before, during and after a flood, storm or tsunami. Prepare for a flood Floods are one of the most costly, dangerous and deadly natural disasters in NSW. They are also important natural events that help keep our river systems clean and healthy. east Prepare for a storm Storms impact NSW anywhere and anytime. Storms can bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, dangerous hail and flash flooding. east Prepare for a tsunami Tsunami can impact beaches and coastal areas. Dangerous waves can surge inland from the sea, quickly flooding beaches and rivers. They can also cause dangerous currents, tides and coastal erosion. east ## Start building your plan Know the risk in your local area Knowing how hazards could impact the areas where you live, work and travel will help you plan for potential risks. east Create an emergency plan Plan for all possible impacts and make decisions on what you will do in an emergency. east Prepare your emergency kit An emergency kit can save you valuable time during an emergency. It has items you might need if you lose power or have to leave your home quickly. east ## How does the warning system work? Understand the Australian Warning System so you know the best course of action to take in an emergency. There are three levels within the AWS - Advice, Watch and Act and Emergency Warning. For each level, there are a series of clear action statements to guide positive action by the community. These include ‘stay informed’, ‘prepare to evacuate’ and ‘move to higher ground’. Advice (Yellow) There is a heightened level of threat. Stay up to date as the situation changes. Watch and Act (Orange) Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family. NSW SES does not issue a Watch and Act level warning for tsunami. Emergency Warnings (Red) The highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Learn more about the Australian Warning System ## Essential emergency planning resources Additional resources to help communities prepare and plan for an emergency. Accessibility resources Accessible resources are available to individuals with additional support needs to help plan and prepare for flood, storm, or tsunami. east Animal safety Planning in advance to take care of your animals in an emergency helps to keep them and everyone safe. east Business emergency planning Help protect your business from the impact of flood, storm and tsunami by being prepared. east Caravan parks and tourism If you live or holiday in a caravan park, or if you are a tourism operator, you need to be aware of your local risks and know what to do in an emergency. east Children and schools Learning resources for children and schools. east Community service providers If you are supporting or caring for an individual who has support needs, it is important to ensure that plans are in place and support networks are established should an emergency occur. east In your language NSW SES provides professionally translated content to help communities plan, prepare and recover from emergencies. east NSW state plans The NSW state plans outline the community's emergency risks, define roles and responsibilities for the NSW SES and supporting agencies, and how emergencies are managed. east ## Local Flood Insights The Local Flood Insights have been produced to help communities understand and visualise flood risks within NSW. It provides information on flood-prone areas, historic flood events, and modelled flood risks through detailed maps, data and community stories. Learn more info ## Learn more about Sydney Rivers Staying prepared in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley area The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Region is a flood prone area. Here's how to prepare ahead of time to reduce your risk. east Learn more about Georges River and Woronora River Learn about the impacts of floods on Georges River and Woronora River. east ## Be prepared with these apps Download these four apps for weather warnings, hazard notifications, road impacts advice and help from emergency services. Hazards Near Me Set up a watch zone to receive notifications on changing conditions. - Download for iOS open_in_new east - Download for Android open_in_new east - Go to website open_in_new east Live Traffic Plan ahead and see what hazards are impacting your route on NSW roads. - Download for iOS open_in_new east - Download for Android open_in_new east - Go to website open_in_new east BOM Weather Check for weather forecasts and warnings. - Download for iOS open_in_new east - Download for Android open_in_new east - Go to website open_in_new east Emergency Plus The ‘what 3 words’ feature shares your precise location with emergency services. - Download for iOS open_in_new east - Download for Android open_in_new east - Go to website open_in_new east ## When to call NSW SES In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000) . Call NSW SES on 132 500 if you need assistance during a flood, storm or tsunami. Contact NSW SES call