Unifying Data-Driven Disaster Response in Local Government

Local governments face growing challenges in managing disaster response, with climate change driving more frequent and severe events. Councils must balance complex reporting requirements, fragmented information systems, and limited resources, all while ensuring effective recovery for their communities. This technical paper explores how councils can strengthen preparedness and streamline disaster management through integrated, purpose-built solutions. Using BottleBrush as a case study, the paper demonstrates how an approach tailored to local government can improve decision-making, optimise resources, and support more effective recovery outcomes. With implementation costs eligible for reimbursement under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the paper also highlights the economic viability of adopting smarter systems to transform the way councils respond to disasters.