Website Upgrade FAQs

The redesigned website offers an enhanced user experience, simplified navigation, and valuable content designed to inform and educate users.

Key changes include:

• Streamlined navigation organising key content under the headings: Plan and Prepare, During an Emergency, and Recovery.
• Improved search functionality to help you find what you're looking for with ease.
• Introduction of Local information pages which provide access to the new Local Flood Insights, local flood plans and guides, as well as information about local units and news updates.
• New professionally translated multilingual content developed across x15 languages covering risk awareness and preparedness information on flood, storm and tsunami.
• Accessibility enhancements across design, content and functionality.
• Improved mobile responsiveness. 

The website was upgraded to enhance the overall user experience by providing a more intuitive, user-friendly interface and streamlining navigation for easier access to information. We also focused on improving accessibility, ensuring the site is compatible with screen readers and keyboard navigation. Additionally, new preparedness and emergency resources have been added to better support users, along with technological upgrades that enhance speed, stability, and mobile-friendliness. The redesign also includes improvements to security and reliability, ensuring the site is safe and available when users need it most, especially during emergencies.

Please report any issues by emailing website@ses.nsw.gov.au.

Your feedback is essential and will help us to continue improving the website. You can share your thoughts through the contact form or by emailing your feedback and suggestions to website@ses.nsw.gov.au.

The site navigation has been reorganised to ensure smoother navigation, and its new structure aligns with the Preparedness, Response and Recovery (PPRR) framework.  

Key features:

• A top navigation notification bar with emergency contact information.
• A top search function for quick access to specific information.
• A simplified main menu with dropdown options.
• A sidebar menu and in-page navigation on content pages.

Main changes include:

• Flood, Storm and Tsunami content is now housed under ‘Plan and prepare’, ‘During an emergency’ and ‘Recovery’ pages, all can be accessed from the main navigation menu.  
• The ‘Flood Awareness NSW’ and the ‘Community Advice’ sections from the old website have been redesigned and integrated into the new ‘Local information’ pages. Story Maps has also been redesigned and is now called ‘Local Flood Insights’, both can be easily accessed from the homepage or the ‘Plan and prepare’ section in the main navigation menu.
• Volunteer pages are now housed under a dedicated ‘Volunteer’ section in the main navigation menu.  

View the new sitemap for an overview of the website. 

To make the most of the new website, we recommend:

• Exploring the homepage and main menu to familiarise yourself with the new layout.
• Explore the new and revised plan and prepare content.
• Explore the ‘During an emergency’ content so that you know what to do in an emergency.
• Using the search bar to find specific information quickly.
• Visit the local information pages and Local Flood Insights to find more information for your local area.  

You can view real-time warnings for flood, severe weather and tsunami in NSW via the HazardWatch map located on the homepage and ‘During an emergency’ page.  

To be kept up-to-date in your local area, download the Hazards Near Me app and set your watch zones to receive notifications on changing conditions.

NSW SES warnings are automatically disseminated on relevant regional and local social media pages including Facebook / X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

• NSW SES Facebook  
• NSW SES Instagram  
• NSW SES X (Twitter)  

To understand the different warning levels, visit our warnings information page.  

For emergency assistance during a flood, storm or tsunami, call NSW SES on 132 500. If you are in a life-threatening situation, please call Triple Zero (000).  

For more information on when to contact the NSW SES, visit the Contact page. 

No, incidents cannot be reported via the website. 

If you require emergency assistance during a flood, storm or tsunami, please make sure you call the NSW SES on 132 500, or Triple Zero (000) in a life-threatening emergency. 

For non-emergency or general enquiries, please call 138 737.

The search tool is located at the top of the page, above the main navigation menu. Click on the search icon search to expand the search bar, then type in any keyword(s) you want to search for. The search tool will filter and display relevant results including news, events, pages and resources based on the keyword(s) entered.

There is a new and extensive collection of professionally translated resources in 15 languages that have recently been developed. These resources focus on ensuring community members are informed of their hazard risks, so they can take steps to mitigate them. This includes a wide range of translated assets, including video, and static material such as posters, factsheets/infographics, social media tiles and digital banners. 

Additional professionally translated content is also available specifically for Hawkesbury-Nepean community members. All in-language resources can be accessed by visiting the In your language page. 

The website also uses an automated service to translate non-critical content into various languages. These translations are intended as a guide only, and professionally translated content should be used whenever possible.

Accessibility was a top priority in the redesign. The new website complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 AA) standards and includes features such as:

• Screen reader compatibility and inbuilt screen reader on content pages.
• Alt text for images.
• High-contrast colour combinations for better visibility.
• Keyboard navigation for users unable to use a mouse.
• Accessibility resources webpage covering physical, intellectual, hearing and sight-impaired disabilities.  
• Carers and Community service providers informative webpages. 

There is a range of resources available under the Resource library. This includes plans and guides, publications and reports, policies and procedures, plan and prepare resources for flood, storm and tsunami.  

You can search for specific resources by entering keyword(s), or by filtering resource types or topics. All resources will open in a new tab or window for the user to view or download.  

For local plans and guides, visit the local information page. 

The Plan and prepare landing page offers many useful resources to help you plan and prepare for an emergency and is a great starting point.

You can access information on how to prepare for a flood, storm or tsunami, and find out information for your Local Government Area and learn how to prepare an emergency kit.

There are also many essential emergency planning resources including  

• Emergency planning guides and checklists
• Accessibility resources
• Animal safety
• Business emergency planning
• Caravan parks and tourism
• Children and schools
• Community service providers
• In your language resources
• NSW state plans  

The local information page provides valuable resources for your Local Government Area (LGA). You can explore flood information for your local river catchment through Local Flood Insights, access local flood plans and guides, and connect with local councils and NSW SES units. 

If you have enabled location sharing in your browser, your location will automatically display your matching Local Government Area when you first visit the page.

The Local Flood Insights is a tool that offers the community with an overview of local flood-prone areas, historic flood events and modelled flood risks through detailed maps, data and community stories.

You can access the Local Flood Insights from the ‘Plan and prepare’ section on the main navigation menu, or from Local information pages. 

There are plenty of useful information and resources to help you plan and prepare for your pets and animals. Simply visit the Animal safety page for more information.

There are lots of roles that you can do depending on what you like and what you want to learn. Whether providing on-the-ground support, assisting in operational support roles or raising community awareness through education programs, there are many ways to be part of NSW SES.

You can learn more about volunteering and how to apply by visiting our volunteer page.