Early Warning Systems: a

Fundamental Component of
Disaster Risk Management
By
Maryam Golnaraghi, Ph.D.
Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction Programme
World Meteorological Organization

December 9, 2008
 Disaster Risk Management Framework
Derived from Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015
Governance and
Organizational Coordination and
Cooperation

Risk Identification Risk Reduction Risk Transfer

Historical hazard data, PREPAREDNESS: CAT insurance

analysis and changing
hazard trends
Exposed assets &
vulnerability
Risk quantification
early warning systems,
emergency planning and CAT bonds
response capacities Alternative Risk Transfer
MITIGATION AND mechanisms
PREVENTION: Other emerging products
Medium to long term sectoral
planning (e.g. building
resilient infrastructure)

Information and Knowledge Sharing

Education and training
 Global Coordination in Hazard Detection and
Forecasting to Support Multi-Hazard EWS
Global Observing System

Coordinated Satellite System

Global Data Processing and Forecasting System

Global Telecommunication System

 Communication
and Dissemination

National Meteorological
and Hydrological Services

Media General Private

public sector
Government and
civil defence
authorities
 4
What is an 1 Community
Preparedness
Effective National to local
governments
EWS? 5
supported by
DRR plans, legislation feedback
and coordination
5 mechanisms
2
COORDINATION AMONG
3
NATIONAL SERVICES 3
Meteorological
3
Hydrological warnings

feedback
Geological 5
Marine

Health (etc.)
 Effective Early Warning Systems
National to local disaster risk reduction plans, legislation and coordination mechanisms
are critical to ensure emergency planning and response involving 4 technical components
National Example: Cyclone Preparedness Programme
in Bangladesh
Analysis of NMHSs’ Capacities, Gaps and
Needs related to DRR and EWS
139 National Meteorological and
Hydrological Services participated:
1. Assessment of role of NMHSs as reflected
in planning, legislation and national DRR
coordination mechanisms;
2. Assessment of NMHS' capacities in
observing, data management, forecasting
and warning services;
3. Capacities to deliver products and services
and warnings;
4. Assessment of NMHSs’ cooperation and
coordination with other agencies and
ministries.
 Responses to the WMO Country-Level Survey
44/48
92 %

18/22
82 % 25/34
74 %

10/12 24/52 14/19

83 % 54 % 74 %

139 out of 187 Members (74 %) responded

Least developed Developing
countries: countries:
25/50 85/137
50 % 54 %
 Status of EWS Projects with Multi-Hazard
Approach

South-Eastern
Europe, East Asia
Caucasus
South
Asia

China
Central America (Shanghai)

South-Eastern
Asia
South-Eastern
Africa
 Thank You
For more information please contact:
Maryam Golnaraghi, Ph.D.
Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction
Programme
World Meteorological Organization
Tel. 41.22.730.8006
Fax. 41.22.730.8023
Email. MGolnaraghi@WMO.int

http://www.wmo.int/disasters
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