Emergency Contacts and Support
  • The NSW State Emergency Service website for the latest NSW SES Warnings, up-to-date information and evacuation orders.
  • Hazard Watch is the official and trusted source of emergency information for incidents in New South Wales, Australia. The app shows information and warnings about bushfires and floods across NSW, using information directly from emergency services. You can set up watch zones and receive notifications about incidents in your area.
  • The NSW Rural Fire Service for major fire updates and fire danger ratings by NSW regions for the consequences of a fire if one was to start.  

Live Traffic NSW

Check Live Traffic NSW for updates on road closures and interruption to services.

Evacuation centres

Find your local evacuation centres to access a range of support services available to those affected by natural disaster and arrange local support.

More weather updates

For weather updates, check the Bureau of Meteorology:

Public Schools and school closure

The NSW Department of Education's decisions regarding school closures do not apply to Independent schools. 

The DoE makes centralised decisions based on its Risk Assessment Protocols. You can check what the DoE has decided for schools in your area by checking the Public Schools School Safety website.

Independent school Heads can make their own decisions depending on their Risk Assessment Protocols and the needs of their parent community.

However, it is important to know that Public School closures may affect transport routes.

Wildlife and animal welfare

There has been a significant toll on native wildlife due to the bushfires. If a member of the school community finds a sick, injured or orphaned native animal, please call WIRES on 1300 094 737. 

For schools that have livestock on school sites, a range of resources on managing livestock after a fire and contact information regarding water, feed and other animal recovery resources is available from the Department of Primary Industries.

Early childhood education services

The approved provider for an Early Childhood Service is responsible for deciding whether or not the service should close in response to and emergency or natural disaster. Further information about service closures and notification requirements can be found here. If you have any questions regarding the closure of an early childhood education service in your area, please contact the Early Childhood Education Directorate on 1800 619 113 or via email on ececd@det.nsw.edu.au from 7am to 7pm.