Department of Health

Key messages

  • Natural disasters in Victoria include fires, floods, heatwaves, earthquakes, storms or tsunami.
  • The Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) responds to emergencies caused by floods, storms, tsunamis and earthquakes.
  • The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) respond to fires.
  • The Department of Health has a formal plan to reduce the impact of extreme heat events, and is a support agency in most other natural disasters to protect public health.

Natural disasters can occur in any community in Victoria without warning. A natural disaster could be fire, flood, heatwave, earthquake, storm or tsunami.

In Victoria, the Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) responds to emergencies caused by floods, storms, tsunamis and earthquakes. The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) respond to fires.

The Department of Health has a formal emergency response plan to reduce the harm of heatwaves that could impact on:

  • human health
  • community infrastructure (such as the power supply and public transport)
  • services.

The plan is available to download in the documents section.

VicEmergencyExternal Link is the state’s primary site for emergency warnings which shows emergencies (including natural disasters) in Victoria on a real-time Google Map display.

Bushfires

Floods

Heatwaves

Natural disaster plans

Food safety

Power use

Water and toilets

Reviewed 24 July 2023

Health.vic

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