Australia is preparing to introduce a new national emergency warning system, designed to deliver critical alerts faster and more reliably during disasters.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says state and territory emergency services will decide when and where AusAlert messages are issued, with each jurisdiction using the system according to its own operational needs.
Emergency services will also determine the target area for an alert, with the message broadcast from mobile towers serving that location to compatible devices.
For the most part, the vast majority of those in Australia will never be in an emergency situation requiring an AusAlert.
The alert is designed to override silent mode and Do Not Disturb on compatible devices.
While that's intended to make sure warnings aren't missed, it also raises important safety considerations for some.
And if the day comes when that sound is heard for real, they'll want you to recognise it, understand it and act on it.
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