Short answer. In a life-threatening emergency in Australia, call Triple Zero (000) for police, fire or ambulance 12. Text-telephone (TTY) users call 106 1. For help during floods, storms or tsunamis, call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 2. NEMA leads at national level; each state and territory runs its own emergency services 12.
Which emergency numbers should I know in Australia?
| Number | Use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 000 | Police, fire or ambulance in a life-threatening emergency (Triple Zero) | 12 |
| 106 | TTY emergency number for text-telephone users | 1 |
| 132 500 | State Emergency Service (SES): flood, storm or tsunami assistance | 2 |
This page lists only the numbers confirmed on the official pages consulted on 20 October 2026.
When should I call the SES rather than 000?
Call 000 when life is at risk. The SES number, 132 500, is for assistance during floods, storms or tsunamis 2.
Which agencies are responsible?
- National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) leads at national level: https://www.nema.gov.au/ 12
- State and territory agencies run emergency services and warnings: ACT ESA, Get Ready NSW, Get Ready Queensland, SAFECOM (South Australia), TasAlert, VicEmergency and DFES (Western Australia) 2.
Which official websites should I bookmark?
- Emergency Alert: https://www.emergencyalert.gov.au/ 1
- Get Ready: https://www.getready.gov.au/ 2
Warnings and the numbers they come from (Emergency Alert messages arrive from +61 444 444 444) are explained on our Australia alerts page.
How should I keep these numbers?
Write them on paper as well as in your phone, so that they are available if your battery runs out. Our guides on making a family emergency plan and which documents to keep for an emergency explain how to set up a household contact list. The official kit lists also include copies of important documents and a USB with scanned documents, contacts and photos (see our Australia kit checklist).
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Australia?
Triple Zero (000), for police, fire and ambulance in a life-threatening emergency 12.
What number do I call for storm damage?
The State Emergency Service on 132 500, for help during floods, storms or tsunamis 2.
Is there an emergency number for deaf or hard-of-hearing people?
Yes: 106 is the TTY emergency number 1.
Who runs emergency management nationally?
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), alongside state and territory agencies 12.
Sources
- Emergency Alert (Australian state and territory governments) — Emergency Alert — https://www.emergencyalert.gov.au/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Get Ready (Queensland Reconstruction Authority), getready.gov.au — Get ready for natural hazards (English) — https://www.getready.gov.au/languages/english (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
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Sources
- Emergency Alert (Australian state and territory governments) · Emergency Alert checked 2026-10-20
- Get Ready (Queensland Reconstruction Authority), getready.gov.au · Get ready for natural hazards (English) checked 2026-10-20