The Emergency Alert system issues a recorded voice message to landline telephones within a geographical warning area selected by the emergency services. If the telephone call goes unanswered, the Emergency Alert system will make a second attempt to deliver the warning message to the landline telephone.
The registered service address and telephone number comes from the Integrated Public Number Database, which contains all public and private phone numbers in Australia.
What happens when the system calls a landline telephone and gets an answering machine?
The answering machine may receive a part of the warning message depending on the answering machine's settings. The Emergency Alert system will consider the warning message has been delivered to that telephone.
What happens if my telephone is engaged?
The Emergency Alert system may attempt to resend the recorded voice message before abandoning the attempt to deliver the warning message if the landline telephone is engaged.
Why didn't I get the landline message?
You may not have received the recorded voice message on your landline telephone for a number of reasons including:
- your landline telephone was engaged
- you didn’t hear/answer the telephone call
- there was a power outage and you have a cordless landline telephone
- the landline telephone was outside the warning area
- you do not have a standard landline telephone
- your telephone is not registered to the correct service address
Can messages be sent to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phones?
Yes. The Emergency Alert system can send warning messages to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephones if the VOIP telephone has a 10 digit geographic number starting with (02), (03), (07) or (08) and the registered service address is correct. Contact your service provider to check the registered service address.
In an emergency you should use a range of information sources and check them continuously to stay aware of local conditions. These information sources may include radio, television and state or territory emergency services organisation websites.
You should not wait to receive a warning message before you act.
How long does my telephone ring before the system assumes that there is no answer?
The Emergency Alert system will ring a landline telephone for 45 seconds. The system will call the landline telephone twice before abandoning the attempt to deliver the warning message.
I have a fax on my phone line - will it keep dialling my fax?
No. The Emergency Alert system will recognise that the number is dedicated to a fax machine and will not leave a warning message.
I have an unlisted number - do I still get calls?
Yes. The Emergency Alert system draws address information for both landline and mobile services from the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND).
The IPND is telecommunications industry-wide database of all listed and unlisted telephone numbers.
Can messages be sent to TTY phones?
No. Teletypewriter (TTY) services are not supported by the Emergency Alert system. This is because the database from which telephone numbers are drawn does not capture information about which telephone numbers are linked to teletypewriters.
In an emergency you should use a range of information sources and check them continuously to stay aware of local conditions. These information sources may include radio, television and state or territory emergency services organisation websites.
You should not wait to receive a warning message before you act.
Why is a landline telephone with a cord the preferred option?
Landline telephones which do not require electricity are preferred over cordless landline telephones.
If the power supply is cut during an emergency, landline telephones with a cord will continue to work.
In an emergency you should use a range of information sources and check them continuously to stay aware of local conditions. These information sources may include radio, television and state or territory emergency services organisation websites.
You should not wait to receive a warning message before you act.