This is a different system to the Emergency Warning system used by agencies such as the SES and RFS. These systems send an emergency warning message and not detailed weather warnings and they deliver the message regardless of whether you have signed up or not. So, if you are in the mobile coverage area that is experiencing a disaster, your phone will get a message. (as many found out who only use prepaid and don't have to have an address registered.)
Last year in December, our town received a message to evacuate due to the floods and it made media attention as it was an inaccurate and badly worded message that panicked half the town. The other half (like myself) ignored it and laughed it off. Personally, I could do that because I knew at that stage we were under no threat as the water had yet to even lap at the bottom of the levy bank at the back of my house. And there was a helicopter parked in the next door neighbours front yard, so if I had to get out quick, I had transport!
This incident really highlighted the weakness of this system, as it really upset a great deal many people, including the elderly, some of whom were out on their lawns, in their pj's, in a panic. Thankfully, local community nurses were able to assist in calming these poor people. I must admit, to get this phone call is not pleasant...when you pick up your phone, there is an air raid type siren blasting and then a male voice telling you what to do. Can't say I think it is a great way to warn people to leave their homes, if needed. In this case, the SES on the coast did not speak with the SES in the inland and IMHO, they need to fix that problem. In the RFS, we'd never let Sydney run our show like the SES is letting Wollongong run theirs...
For everyone's info...this is an exact transcript of the text message we received last year...
SES FLOOD EVACUATION WARNING: Residents within Wee Waa levee. Prepare to evacuate now. Listen to radio. www.ses.nsw.gov.au or Tel 12500.
As you can see...its not hard to imagine the panic this incited across the town of 1500 people.
About 3 hours later, we received this message...
SES update to previous flood evacuation warning. No evacuation warning order has been issued for Wee Waa. Residents were advised to prepare only.
Yeah...read the first message again and tell me you would think that it was just a preparation advice.
Sorry...a bit off topic but I just wanted to show you the difference between the actual emergency warning system and this "early warning" system...
