ABC bushfires coverage
The ABC has announced upgrades to its emergency services in preparation for this year’s emergency summer season.
The ABC’s Managing Director David Anderson today launched the broadcaster’s new Emergency website () which aggregates information from key national and state emergency services.
Mr Anderson said last summer’s horrific bushfire season showed that Australians turned to the ABC in record numbers to stay informed and to keep safe.
“The ABC was named the nation’s most trusted source of emergency information* and as we move towards summer we have directed every available resource to our emergency services.
“We understand the advice that cyclones and floods may be greater risks than fires this summer and we have been working with emergency agencies to give Australians the best information possible.”
Mr Anderson was speaking at a special broadcast from Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast to mark the recommissioning of the region’s ABC local radio transmission mast, which was burnt out on 31 December 2019.
The new mast at Mt Wandera, near Mogo, was switched on in recent days and provides stronger ABC Television and Radio coverage to the greater Batemans Bay region.
The ABC’s emergency website allows users to search for nearby incidents; check on emergency events in other locations around the country; and connects the user with their nearest local ABC Radio station.
ABC Local Radio remains the remains the single most important means of delivering emergency information and warnings to local communities, particularly as an emergency event is developing.
* The ABC Bushfire Impact Research was conducted by Ruby Cha Cha between 17-27 March 2020. It involved a survey of 1630 people (aged 18-75 years).
