Flood, Storm and Tsunami Plans
The Emergency Management Plan (EMPLAN) describes emergencies and the responsible combat and support agencies in NSW.
Supporting plans are action plans that describe the support which is to be provided to the combat agency by a NSW Government agency or Functional Area.
Flood Planning
The NSW SES undertakes flood planning as a legislative responsibility to determine how to best respond to floods as the combat agency.
Flood plans typically describe the risk to the community, outlines roles and responsibilities for the NSW SES and supporting agencies and describes how the NSW SES will manage flood events.
Flood Risk in NSW
NSW has a significant flood risk with an estimated 160,000 urban residential properties believed to be at risk of inundation in the 1% AEP flood (1 in 100 year) in addition to the large number of rural properties that are exposed.
To learn more about flood risk in NSW click on the buttons below.
The Flood Threat in NSW Story Map
Flood Warning and Gauge Network
NSW SES and the Bureau of Meteorology issue flood warning information to the public across the NSW gauge network. Click on the button below for detailed information.
Provision of and Requirements for Flood Warning
State Flood Plans
NSW State Flood Plan
The NSW State Flood Plan outlines arrangements for responding to floods in NSW. Click on the buttons below to view the NSW State Flood Plan supporting documents.
NSW SES Dam Failure Notification Flowchart
Hawkesbury Nepean Flood Plan
The Hawkesbury Nepean Flood Plan recognises the potential of serious flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. The plan establishes a framework for managing floods, including allocating responsibilities to the agencies and organisations that manage the preparation for, response to and recovery from floods.
Local Flood Plans
Download your local flood plan by searching for your suburb: Your Local Risk
Storm Planning
The NSW SES undertakes storm planning as a legislative responsibility to determine how to best respond to storms as the combat agency.
Storm plans typically describe the risk to the community, outlines roles and responsibilities for the NSW SES and supporting agencies and describes how the NSW SES will manage severe weather events.
Storm Risk in NSW
Storms cause greater losses to NSW communities than any other single hazard.
Between 2007 and 2016 storms caused an estimated $2.3 billion to NSW.
To learn more about storm hazard in NSW click on the button below.
State Storm Plan
The NSW State Storm Plan outlines arrangements for responding to severe weather in NSW.
Tsunami Planning
The NSW SES undertakes tsunami planning as a legislative responsibility to determine how to best respond to tsunamis as the combat agency.
Tsunami plans typically describe the risk to the community, outlines roles and responsibilities for the NSW SES and supporting agencies and describes how the NSW SES will manage tsunami.
Tsunami Risk in NSW
At least 7 marine-threat tsunamis originating from earthquakes and 1 from a volcanic source have impacted NSW since 2007. These include earthquake-sourced tsunamis occurring in the Solomon Islands (2007), Puysegur (2009), Chile (2010), Japan (2011), New Hebrides (2021), Kermadec (2021), New Hebrides (2023), and a volcano-sourced tsunami occurring in Tonga (2022).
Tsunami Hazard and Risk in NSW
Tsunami Warning Arrangements
The Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS) is a national collaboration between the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia and the Department of Home Affairs. Click on the button below for more information.
Know where to go
NSW SES have developed Tsunami Evacuation Area Maps for coastal locations of NSW. These maps are of evacuation zones from the coast and are NOT inundation areas. You can use these maps to assist you plan for possible tsunami.
- Find the safest route to travel in the event that you might need to evacuate and identify the point at which your evacuation route may be cut
- In many locations, it is likely that you will need to evacuate by foot due to congestion on roads
- Find out where any evacuation centres could be set up in your area. If you prefer, check with friends and relatives outside the affected area to organise a place to go
State Tsunami Plan
The NSW State Tsunami Plan outlines arrangements for responding to tsunami in NSW.
Create Your Own Home and Business Plans
Individuals, businesses and households can also plan for floods storms and tsunami using some of our planning tools including:
Flood Risk Management Planning Guides
For flood, storm and tsunami updates follow NSW SES on 
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