A public test of the telephone-based emergency warning system, Emergency Alert, will be held in the Fern Tree area on the evening of Monday 28 November 2011. 

Emergency Alertcan issue warning messages to landlines based on the location of the handset and mobile phones based on the service address.

Residents in Fern Tree may receive a test warning via a text message to their mobile phone or a voice message to their landline telephone as part of this test.

The Fern Tree test of Emergency Alert will consist of a voice-recorded landline message, clearly stating it is a TEST or a mobile phone message that will be clearly marked as a TEST.

“Emergency Alertprovides emergency service organisations with an enhanced ability to warn the community in the event of an emergency. It is another very important tool available for organisations to issue emergency warnings,” said Commander Steve Bonde.

“However it is important communities do not rely on receiving a telephone warning message at the time of an emergency; individuals and communities must still prepare themselves in case of an emergency,” said Commander Bonde. 

Individuals should NOT call 000 for information on the warning system or test. Members of the public should only call 000 if they are in immediate need of emergency services (police, fire or ambulance).

For further information on the test visit www.fire.tas.gov.au and for further information regarding Emergency Alert visit www.emergencyalert.gov.au.

Media and Communications
(03) 6230 2296