Victoria State Emergency Service Nillumbik Unit
Staying connected during an emergency.
When natural disaster strikes - from fallen trees, storms and floods to earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis - the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) responds.
The VICSES Nillumbik unit covers a 412 square-kilometre region north-east of Melbourne. The area is a collection of townships, villages and suburbs set amongst unspoilt bushland and picturesque hills.
While living amongst nature ranks among the region's appeal, it comes with well-known risks. Even minor storms that barely register elsewhere can wreak havoc on Nillumbik's green wedge communities. And as climate change leads to more extreme weather events, there's a greater need for VICSES than ever before.
With natural disasters increasing in frequency and severity, VICSES Nillumbik has had to navigate multiple power outages. But with internet connectivity an essential emergency response tool, they needed a reliable mobile connection to keep them online when it matters most.
The challenge
In times of emergency, VICSES Nillumbik and its team of 50 active volunteers rely on internet connectivity. The internet allows volunteers to access real-time updates on rapidly changing situations. They also use online channels to communicate with the public and other emergency response teams.
But during extreme weather events such as storms, where connectivity is most important, it's also at its most precarious. It came to a head during a particularly vicious storm in October 2021. The turbulent weather led to a power outage, which meant the unit's fixed-line internet connection went down.
The unit lost connectivity and had to rely on radios and personal mobile devices, resulting in their headquarters becoming largely disconnected. The lack of connectivity was especially problematic as all resource coordination occurs on site. While they had a reliable source of backup electricity through a dedicated generator, internet was the next problem.
While the unit managed, they did so under unnecessarily high pressure. But as storms got more frequent and intense, power outages became a fixture of their impact. Deputy Controller Luke knew the VICSES Nillumbik unit couldn't keep going like this.
After multiple power outages during recent storms, we knew we couldn't rely on a single fixed-line internet connection. We needed a mobile internet service that would serve as a backup and keep us connected in times of emergency.
The challenge
In times of emergency, VICSES Nillumbik and its team of 50 active volunteers rely on internet connectivity. The internet allows volunteers to access real-time updates on rapidly changing situations. They also use online channels to communicate with the public and other emergency response teams.
But during extreme weather events such as storms, where connectivity is most important, it's also at its most precarious. It came to a head during a particularly vicious storm in October 2021. The turbulent weather led to a power outage, which meant the unit's fixed-line internet connection went down.
The unit lost connectivity and had to rely on radios and personal mobile devices, resulting in their headquarters becoming largely disconnected. The lack of connectivity was especially problematic as all resource coordination occurs on site. While they had a reliable source of backup electricity through a dedicated generator, internet was the next problem.
While the unit managed, they did so under unnecessarily high pressure. But as storms got more frequent and intense, power outages became a fixture of their impact. Deputy Controller Luke knew the VICSES Nillumbik unit couldn't keep going like this.
After multiple power outages during recent storms, we knew we couldn't rely on a single fixed-line internet connection. We needed a mobile internet service that would serve as a backup and keep us connected in times of emergency.
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