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Inviting comments on the Draft EWS Document

INTRODUCTION:

The frequency of disasters and losses (people and assets) is increasing globally and is expected to increase further with climate change (greater frequency of extremes). Natural hazards, such as storms, droughts, floods, or earthquakes, need not spell disaster. A disaster occurs only if a community or population is exposed to the natural hazard and cannot cope with its effects. Vulnerability is the potent additive that mixes with natural hazards to cause disasters.

In the field of disaster risk management, disasters or hazard impacts on a community can be significantly reduced with an effective Early Warning System (EWS). The term “Early Warning System” can mean different things to different people. It is much more than “the technology” used for monitoring and prediction. An effective EWS warns people in advance of likely hazards, and enables risks and losses to be mitigated through suitable preparatory measures and response actions. The technology used must be complemented by other essential components in order for it to be effective. In practice an EWS must be considered as a Complete Early Warning, Preparedness & Response System.

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Requesting comments be submitted by June 30, 2011 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.