Early warning systems
Early Warning Systems (EWS) are tools and processes designed to detect and provide advance notice of potential hazards, allowing individuals, communities, or organizations to take action before a disaster strikes. These systems are commonly used for natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and hurricanes, as well as in health, environmental, and conflict monitoring.
An effective early warning system typically includes four key components:
- Risk Knowledge – understanding and mapping potential hazards.
- Monitoring and Warning – detecting signs of danger and issuing timely alerts.
- Communication – delivering warnings clearly and quickly to the right people.
- Response Capability – ensuring communities or systems are prepared to act on warnings.
