Severe weather and bushfires have hit much of Southeast Australia, particularly in regional Victoria, causing widespread disruption and dangerous conditions.

Telstra has activated an assistance package for customers in affected areas, including in parts of the Strathbogie, Towong and Murrindindi local government areas. That means they will bestow 100GB of extra data for post-paid and 70GB for prepaid mobile customers so you're not caught short when you need to be online, and will divert any calls to any of your landlines to another number of your choice.

Their assistance package also gives Telstra customers access to free and interim services during short-term impacts from damaging weather, with long-term measures also available for customers who have suffered severe damage or loss of their homes and businesses.

For customers who have been displaced from their residence or business during a natural disaster event, short-term assistance can include:

• Calls diverted from a fixed line service to another number while you're displaced from your residence or business (to Australian numbers only)

• 100GB data pack for post-paid mobile customers (30-day expiry, not transferrable to another service)

• 70GB prepaid data and free calls (30-day expiry, not transferrable to another service)

There may also be longer term assistance available for Telstra customers who have suffered severe damage to or loss of their premises and require longer term assistance.

The long-term assistance package includes:

• Free call diversion from the customer's Telstra fixed phone service to another Australian fixed or mobile service of their choice, regardless of the carrier.

• A one-off credit to the customer's Telstra fixed phone account to cover the costs of connecting a Telstra fixed phone service at one temporary address; and

• Re-connection of a Telstra fixed phone service at the customer's original permanent address

If you need assistance, you can contact their dedicated Disaster Support number on 1800 888 888.

Please see their website for eligible Victorian postcodes.

• Phone: 1800 888 888