Emergency Dispatch Vol 4 2014

Community Station
To Emergency
Broadcast
UGFM – Radio Murrindindi has become the
first Australian community broadcaster to have
official emergency broadcaster status.
The station today signed a formal Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) for emergency
broadcasting with the Victorian Government in
a further bid to boost emergency messaging for
communities in times of need.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Bob
Cameron said this is one of a range of initiatives
the government is undertaking to continue to
improve the delivery of warnings to communities.
“Under the new agreement, UGFM will break into
programming to broadcast emergency warnings
at the request of the emergency services,
and move to continuous coverage in some
circumstances,” Mr Cameron said.
The Office of the Emergency Services
Commissioner has written to all community
broadcasters in Victoria, inviting them to enter
into emergency broadcasting MOUs – subject to
their capabilities. UGFM was the first community
broadcaster to submit an application for official
emergency broadcaster status.
Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce
Esplin said community broadcasters throughout
Victoria have played an important role in keeping
their communities informed about unfolding
emergencies.
the community by broadcasting emergency
information to the community in February last year,
and this agreement recognises and strengthens
their work in emergency broadcasting,” Mr Esplin
said.
Emergency warnings are now distributed in
Victoria via radio, TV, telephone and the Internet.
The MOU is similar to the MOU in place between
the emergency services, other commercial
networks and ABC Local Radio in Victoria
Bushfire Warnings & Emergency Life Threatening
Information will be aired every 15 minutes.
Bushfire Information & Incident Information will
be aired every half hour or hourly depending on
the threat level.
All Emergency Warnings given will be relevant to
UGFM’s listening area and surrounds.
(Murrindindi, Mansfield, Mitchell, Strathbogie &
Yarra Valley Shires)
Remember in a life threatening situation or
Emergency call 000 (if you see fire or flames).
For information on a fire call the Victorian
Bushfire Info Line on 1800 240 667
In a Flood or Storm call 132500 for urgent SES
assistance to life and property.
“UGFM demonstrated their ability to help