Authorities warn of increased bushfire risk across Australia this summer

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The latest bushfire outlook has pointed to an increased risk of fires across large areas of Australia this summer. Authorities are warning temperatures may continue to soar above average.

Transcript

00:00So, Australia has entered its high-risk weather season and we will expect over the next four

00:06months to see tropical cyclones, bushfires, severe weather, floods in some part of the

00:12country. Looking at the Bureau's long-range outlook, we're looking at increased odds of

00:17a wet December, particularly across most of the east and into the north-west of WA. We're

00:23also seeing evidence that we will see a warmer-than-average summer with a risk of extreme heat, particularly

00:29across the north. With warm oceans around Australia, it's likely to be quite sticky

00:33and humid at times and that is quite a big significant factor if you are vulnerable in

00:39some way, so that's the elderly or those with medical conditions who are sensitive to extreme

00:43heat. So, that wet December will raise the risk of flooding this summer, particularly

00:48in the east, and it will also raise the possibility that the tropical cyclones that we will see

00:55will be more severe than those that we've seen in the past. Now, this is a collaborative

00:59approach. That money, that $1 billion, $200 million a year is supported by state and territory

01:06governments and in this year we're going to be seeing well over $360 million which will

01:12be spent on projects in the coming year in the round two of the Disaster Ready Fund.

01:19So right now, nationally, we are better prepared than we have ever been. We are connected,

01:24we are coordinated, we are working very closely with states and territories who have primary

01:29responsibility but we're also working very closely with the private sector, not-for-profits

01:36to make sure, again, that they are aware of the risks and the challenges that we face

01:40as a nation and how we can actually work together.

01:42Our government is focused on working with the states and the territories ahead of this

01:47season to do this and there are many things that people in the community can do to prepare

01:53as well. So the key messages to the community are this, understand the risk in your local

01:58area. Have a plan and a kit, the things you'll take with you if you need to leave.

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