Event overview Early warning systems are essential in minimizing the impact of hazards on communities. However, issuing warnings alone is not sufficient for an effective system. The true measure of success lies in the quality of the overall response. To address this challenge, the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) and the Warning Research Centre (WRC) […]
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, governments and civil society organizations are making large investments in early warning systems (EWS) with the aim to avoid death and destruction from hydro-meteorological events. Early warning systems have four components: (1) risk knowledge, (2) monitoring and warning, (3) warning dissemination and communication,
Early warnings for hazards are essential for living safely and minimizing economic losses. For many hazards, it is possible to give advance notice and accurate information to help communities prepare and respond. However, issuance of the warning itself is not enough for a warning system to be effective, as the effectiveness of warnings is determined
For warning systems to be most comprehensive they need to be multi-hazard and operate across many stakeholders to integrate hazard and risk knowledge. This Warnings Briefing Note, supported by the Global Disaster Preparedness Center/IFRC and produced by UCL Warning Research Center, focuses on building warnings for multiple hazards. It covers state-of-the-art, key issues, examples, resources and recommendations to
Warning Briefing Note: Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems Read More »
Early warning systems (EWS) have been widely recognized as an essential tool to reduce risks and improve preparedness and response to natural hazards. To be effective, EWS must go beyond the mere dissemination of alerts and encompass multiple elements – from increasing the population’s risk knowledge to building response capabilities. To address the key aspects
How to create effective and inclusive early warnings: 11 recommendations from research Read More »
With 3 out of 4 people owning a mobile phone (in 2022), mobile networks have become a powerful communication channel to alert populations about an imminent hazard. Despite this, many countries have yet to implement a mobile-based Early Warning System (EWS), making it necessary for public and private sectors to collaborate and expedite the rollout
False alarms and near misses can erode public trust in weather warnings, which may lead to people becoming less responsive to actual risks. However, false alarms and near misses can also be used to increase public awareness and improve risk assessment through education initiatives for both the public and authorities. This Warnings Briefing Note, supported
Warnings Briefing Note: False Alarms and Near Misses Read More »
Community-based early warning systems (CBEWS) provide community members with the information they need to assess the risk they are facing and make decisions to protect their lives and livelihoods. CBEWS are essential for achieving “early warning for all” as they help bridge the gaps in coverage of national early warning systems that often exclude communities with
Warnings Briefing Note: Community-based early warning systems Read More »
This compendium of multi-hazard early warning cooperation will capitalize on recent publications to identify county-specific challenges and note good practices cooperation arrangements to strengthen forecasting capabilities, early warning coverage, and systems to act on them. This compendium was launched at the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Side Event: Early Warning Early Action, 30 March
Compendium of multi-hazard early warning cooperation Read More »
This paper outlines the opportunities and challenges to improve end-to-end flood early warning systems, considering the scientific, technical and institutional/governance dimensions. Kenya and the wider East African region suffer from significant flood risk, as illustrated by major losses of lives, livelihoods and assets in the most recent years. This is likely to increase in future
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