Residents and tourists on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands will now receive real-time cyclone and severe weather warnings through Western Australia’s Emergency WA website and app, following a new partnership between the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and the Commonwealth territories.
The move marks a major shift away from traditional local noticeboards, radio updates and private social media groups, which have long been the primary sources of information during dangerous weather — and are often inaccessible to visitors.
Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said the partnership will make a critical difference during high-risk weather events.
He said,
“Communities on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands will now be supported by our world-class Emergency WA warning system.”
DFES will issue specialised cyclone-season alerts for the Indian Ocean Territories through Emergency WA, giving communities reliable guidance to make life-saving decisions as conditions escalate. The agency is regarded as a global leader in public emergency information, drawing on experience managing bushfires, floods, cyclones and international disaster responses.
The expansion to the remote islands follows the system’s rollout to Manitoba, Canada, earlier this year. Emergency WA remains the State’s most trusted platform for emergency updates, recording more than 37 million page views in the past year and over 139 million since its 2016 launch.
The Emergency WA app, introduced last December, has already been downloaded more than 238,000 times as part of the State’s $16 million investment in a world-class warning system.
Papalia added that the territories’ adoption of the platform reflects DFES’ strong reputation.
“The adoption of Emergency WA by the Indian Ocean Territories is also a testament to DFES’ public information knowledge and strategies, which are regularly sought by other jurisdictions,” he added.
“This partnership ensures residents and visitors can receive trusted, timely emergency information directly to their phones, enhancing preparedness and response when it matters most.”
With northern WA heading into cyclone season and the south entering bushfire season, authorities are urging people to download the Emergency WA app and set personalised watch zones — covering areas up to 100 kilometres away — to receive instant notifications whenever warnings are issued.
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