Reliable up-to-date single source of emergency information for the community
Provides live updates from across several emergency channels
Accessible on any device
Testimonial
.... a practical, high-value community asset that strengthens preparedness, improves access to critical information and helps residents make informed decisions when it matters most. I would encourage any council looking to enhance community resilience and emergency preparedness to consider a similar approach.
Heather Barclay, CEO, Rural City of Murray Bridge
Review the Emergency Dashboard
https://emergency.murraybridge.sa.gov.au/
Background
Set on the Murray River in South Australia, the Rural City of Murray Bridge is home to more than 21,000 people across its local government area. Murray Bridge is a major regional centre, with the river playing an important part in the identity, lifestyle and economy of the community.
For a community spread across a regional area, access to clear and timely information becomes particularly important when conditions change. Murray Bridge wanted to make it easier for residents to find trusted emergency information through a familiar channel, the Council website.
The Challenge
Murray Bridge faces a range of emergency risks, including bushfires, extreme heat, storms and flooding. The 2022–23 River Murray flood, the largest in South Australia since 1956, showed how quickly conditions can affect the community.
When an emergency happens, residents need clear and current information. But updates on weather, roads, power outages, fires, floods and Council services can come from different sources. There was no single place where residents could see this information together and get a clear picture of what was happening in their community.
Emergency information is not only required while an event is unfolding. Access to the right information before and after an emergency is required to help people prepare better and recover faster.
Solution
Symphony3 built a reusable Emergency Dashboard within the council's existing website, giving the emergency team full control to publish and update critical information without technical assistance.
- An interactive Leaflet map bringing together information from official sources including SAFECOM, CFS and SES.
- Mobile-ready and accessible, making emergency information easy to access across devices.
- Live fire danger ratings drawn directly from CFS feeds.
- Local incident information including road closures and disruptions.
- Social media integration bringing Council updates into the same view.
- Edit buttons on every tile, allowing the emergency team to update content without navigating away from the page.
- Designed to fit within Council’s existing website and draw on open data available from State Government.
What The Council Says
Our community faces the ongoing risk of floods, bushfires, and extreme weather events. When emergencies occur, residents should not have to navigate multiple websites and apps to understand what is happening and where to find trusted information. The Emergency Dashboard brings everything together in one place, accessible on any device, giving people clarity before, during and after an emergency. In a single view, users can access current Fire Danger Rating, live CFS incidents mapped against the Rural City of Murray Bridge council area, local weather conditions, BoM warnings, rainfall and radar information, school closures, and emergency radio services. The platform also uses live information from the agencies residents rely on most in an emergency including, CFS, SA SES, SAPOL, SAFECOM, Alert SA, SA Power Networks, SA Water, SA Infrastructure and Transport, ABC Adelaide, and our own council channels. Symphony3 delivered the solution quickly and cost-effectively, with minimal maintenance required from our team. The result is a practical, high-value community asset that strengthens preparedness, improves access to critical information and helps residents make informed decisions when it matters most. I would encourage any council looking to enhance community resilience and emergency preparedness to consider a similar approach.
Heather Barclay, CEO, Rural City of Murray Bridge
Transformative Results
- Residents, businesses and visitors now have one place to access important emergency information.
- Current information from trusted emergency and government sources is brought together in one view.
- Emergency information is accessible across devices, at home or on the move.
- Council’s emergency team can publish and update website content directly.
- The dashboard supports access to important information before, during and after emergency events.
The Symphony3 Difference
Symphony3 delivers a cloud-based service combined with a human touch - we call it SWAS (Software with a Service). We work closely with our clients on every engagement and ensure you are supported once the solution goes live. It is an approach that is collaborative, and flexible, and ensures you get technical advice tailored to your organisation.