How to stay connected for those affected by Cyclone Alfred

We're closely monitoring Cyclone Alfred in South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Here's what we’re doing and what you can do to keep yourself connected.
Paul Harrison · 04 March 2025 · 2 minute read

We know how critical it is for everyone to stay in touch during a natural disaster, and we’re as ready as we can be.

We have a long history of responding to extreme weather events and our people are often first on the ground after emergency services to assess and bring our network back online.

What you can do to best stay online

We urge everyone to stay safe and be prepared. There are a number of things you can do to stay in touch and informed including:

Backup your data

Store your important data, like contact information and personal photos, in the cloud using an online service. If you have an Apple or Google device, these smartphones have automatic backups that you can enable to make sure your photos are always saved. You may also consider saving your essential documents down as having electronic copies can save you time, worry and stress – check out ePrepared – a free online self-help tool we have launched with Justice Connect.

Download emergency apps

These official apps will give you the most up-to-date information on what’s happening in your area, including natural disaster warnings.

Charge your phone and portable chargers if you have them

If you don’t already have one, purchase a phone charger that isn’t dependent on a power outlet. A popular choice is a ‘power bank’ battery pack that can be charged from a power outlet prior to an event and used if grid electricity is unavailable, or a portable solar panel charger or in-car charger.

Stay alert to scammers:

Scammers are notorious for exploiting natural disasters like Cyclone Alfred and impersonating companies like Telstra to target potential vitcims.  

Always verify the identity of anyone contacting you and remember that Telstra will never ask for your personal information or payment details via unsolicited communication. For more tips on how to protect yourself or report suspicious activity, visit Telstra's support page.

Find your nearest free payphone

Our free payphone network can be a good potential backup option for both calls and Wi-Fi if your local mobile or home internet access is down. Many of our payphones have been upgraded in recent years to be more resilient in times of natural disaster, including with extended batteries if the power goes out. 

What we’re doing to prepare for Cyclone Alfred

As we prepare for Cyclone Alfred to hit land, we’re assessing at-risk areas as well as moving temporary power generators into staging locations where they’re ready to be deployed quickly.

Extended power outages are often a major cause of network disruption, moreso than specific damage to our network equipment. Our network sites have backup systems that keep services running for as long as possible, but there may be disruptions if power’s out for a long time in your area. 

If this does happen though, we have teams on the ground across the region ready to go when it’s safe to do so and bring services back online as quickly as possible. 

We also stand ready to rollout our Telstra Disaster Assistance package to affected areas. Generally this includes free bonus data to keep your connected while the full network is restored and will automatically apply to anyone in an impacted area.  

What if I need more support?

If you need to chat to us, you can contact us on our dedicated disaster assistance line on 1800 888 888.

We also offer extensive information on how to prepare for a disaster on Telstra.com.

By Paul Harrison

National Emergency Response Manager

Paul Harrison is Telstra’s National Emergency Response Manager and is a critical member of Telstra’s Major Incident Management and Global Operations Team, preparing, monitoring and responding to emergency threats and impact on Telstra networks. Paul’s career with Telstra began 35 years ago as an apprentice technician for the then Telecom, in his home town of Ballarat. Since that time, Paul’s career has provided him the great opportunity to have worked in and across a variety of Customer facing, Network Operations and Leadership roles. The wealth of knowledge and experience accumulated both within Telstra and through wider industry engagements have provided the foundation, knowledge, and leadership required in the highly challenging role of National Emergency Response Manager. Things that motivate Paul outside of work include motorcycles, music, and his love of exploring the most remote parts of Australia in his 4WD with his family.