Early Warning

EWS in the Caribbean
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has been working to support various organizations across the Caribbean to incorporate multiple hazards into their understanding of EWS.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean The Climate Risk & Early Warning Systems Initiative
 Patricia Danzi, Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
'Early Warnings for All - Closing the gap and scaling up good practices', a Risk Reduction Hub side event at the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework, explored how the world can close the gap and scale up implementation of early warning systems.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Geneva, Switzerland
Closing date
The main function is to provide support for the planning, programming, coordination and implementation of the Early Warnings for All Initiative which UNDRR is co-leading with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Geneva, Switzerland
Closing date
The temporary position is located in the UNDRR Headquarters in Geneva. The incumbent reports to the Principal Coordinator Officer in the Director's Office.
Cover
2023
This Words into Action guide aims to promote greater implementation of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) across all sectors to protect the most exposed populations from disasters.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Man showing early warning system
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction invites members of the DRR community to comment on the new Words into Action guide on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
visit to ICPAC
Mami Mizutori, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDDR) recently made a visit to Nairobi, Kenya.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa
Abuja, Nigeria
Closing date
UNDRR is recruiting a consultant to build capacity of the regional situation room at ECOWAS to improve quality and value of services for Disaster risk reduction at the continental, regional and national levels in Africa.
speakers
A global initiative to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected by early warnings by 2027 is being fast-tracked into action on the ground.
World Meteorological Organization United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies International Telecommunication Union

Early warning system

An integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, communication and preparedness activities systems and processes that enables individuals, communities, governments, businesses and others to take timely action to reduce disaster risks in advance of hazardous events.

Annotations: Effective “end-to-end” and “people-centred” early warning systems may include four interrelated key elements: (1) disaster risk knowledge based on the systematic collection of data and disaster risk assessments; (2) detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the hazards and possible consequences; (3) dissemination and communication, by an official source, of authoritative, timely, accurate and actionable warnings and associated information on likelihood and impact; and (4) preparedness at all levels to respond to the warnings received. These four interrelated components need to be coordinated within and across sectors and multiple levels for the system to work effectively and to include a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement. Failure in one component or a lack of coordination across them could lead to the failure of the whole system.

Multi-hazard early warning systems address several hazards and/or impacts of similar or different type in contexts where hazardous events may occur alone, simultaneously, cascadingly or cumulatively over time, and taking into account the potential interrelated effects. A multi-hazard early warning system with the ability to warn of one or more hazards increases the efficiency and consistency of warnings through coordinated and compatible mechanisms and capacities, involving multiple disciplines for updated and accurate hazards identification and monitoring for multiple hazards.

Themes
Author Name
Sylvain Ponserre
Character