Early
Warning and Preparedness
Early warning and preparedness plays a critical role in preventing hazardous
events turning into disasters. Clear warnings, received in time, coupled
with the knowledge of how to react, can mean the difference between life
and death, or between economic survival and ruin, for individuals and
communities.
Early warning is more than just a prediction – a complete early
warning system comprises of four elements
- Risk knowledge,
systematically collect data and undertake risk assessments
- Monitoring
and warning service, develop hazard monitoring and early warning
services
- Dissemination
and communication, communicate risk information and early
warnings
- Response
capability, build national and community response capabilities
|
|
|
|
Lack
of early warning systems
Early warning and preparedness systems are widely acknowledged as good
investments to protect life and property. But many countries and communities
still do not have effective systems and are highly vulnerable to natural
hazards. This was sadly demonstrated once again in the Indian Ocean Tsunami
in December 2004 which killed more than 200.000 people.
|
|
|
What
PPEW does
The Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning, which started operations
in 2004, will help the development of early warning and preparedness systems
by advocating for better early warning systems, especially in development
assistance policy and programs, collecting and disseminating information
on best practices, and stimulating cooperation among early warning actors
and the development of new ways to improve early warning systems. PPEW
support international action necessary to more systematically integration
of technical early warning capacities into policy and practice, and improve
early warning systems worldwide in order to facilitate the development
of effective, people centred early warning and preparedness systems. The
Platform is advocating for better early warning systems, especially in
development assistance policy and programs, collecting and disseminating
information on best practices, and stimulating cooperation among early
warning actors and the development of new ways to advance early warning
systems. PPEW strongly supports the concept of people centred early warning
systems which comprises four key elements of (i) risk knowledge, (ii) monitoring
and warning service, (iii) dissemination and communication, and (iv) response
capability. |
See
the tabs "About PPEW" at the top of
this page for more details |
|
