The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) has launched a new website and social media accounts that will increase access to warnings and information.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell says the website, text and RSS feeds, and Twitter and Facebook accounts will provide emergency information, updates and warnings from the agency.

“People can make a more informed decision on what action to take during a major emergency such as bushfire, storm or flood if they have the latest advice from the ESA,” he said.

“All the indicators point to a very busy fire season in the months ahead, particularly with the likelihood of many grass fires in the urban area.”

Information can be accessed from a computer or hand-held device and will be available in 53 languages.

The ESA can transmit a list of current incidents with basic details such as location, type, time of call and status, and the option to see the information on a map.

The new website is hosted in both Canberra and Sydney to maximise its availability in high-demand emergency situations.

Mr Corbell says this was a key lesson from emergencies such as the Queensland floods this year and the Victorian bushfires in 2009.