An early warning system is a proactive mechanism that is designed to detect and alert stakeholders about potential risks and threats before they escalate into disasters. Early warning systems play a crucial role in disaster risk management and decision-making by providing timely information, thereby enabling proactive responses to emerging threats.
Early warning systems analyse and identify potential weather and climate-related risks and hazards. All early warning systems aim at enabling early action to save and protect lives, livelihoods and assets of people at risk. Therefore, early warning messages must be acted upon. By identifying upcoming hazards as early as possible, communities can prepare in advance and try to minimise disruption and damage.
The hazards include weather phenomena such as cyclones, storms and floods. They can also include heatwave, wildfire, drought, sand and dust storm, volcanic eruption and earthquakes. Hazards also include disease outbreaks, technological accidents and pest infestations, among others.
According to World Meteorological Organisation, the damage caused by a disaster can be reduced by 30 percent if an early warning is issued within 24 hours and that, globally, we could avoid losses of $3-16 billion per year through early warning systems. This confirms the importance of EWS and acting on the warning messages.
An early warning system is made up of four elements which are disaster risk knowledge, detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting, warning dissemination and communication and preparedness and response capabilities. All four elements are equally important for reducing the impacts of extreme events.
Early warning systems target stakeholders, depending on the type of hazard and the context in which the system is implemented. The primary groups that early warning systems typically aim to reach are the general public, local communities, emergency responders, government authorities, critical infrastructure operators such as Electricity Generation Company of Malawi and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi and vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Early warning systems often target the general population living in areas prone to natural hazards. Alerts and warnings are disseminated through mass communication channels such as sirens, mobile phone alerts, radio broadcasts, television and social media. The goal is to ensure that individuals and households receive timely information about impending threats and can take appropriate actions to protect themselves and their families, such as evacuating to safety or seeking shelter.
Local communities located in hazard-prone areas including coastal regions, floodplains, earthquake zones and volcanic areas are prioritised with early warning information. Further, the use of community-based early warning systems which may involve local authorities, community leaders, volunteers and grassroots organisations in disseminating warnings and coordinating response efforts is also effective.
Early warning systems provide critical information to emergency response agencies, including fire departments, police, medical services and search and rescue teams. By alerting responders to imminent threats, early warning systems facilitate rapid mobilisation and deployment of resources to affected areas.
National and Local Government agencies play a key role in developing, implementing, and coordinating early warning systems. These authorities are responsible for generating and issuing warnings, managing response efforts and implementing policies and regulations to reduce disaster risk. Government officials receive early warning information from monitoring agencies, meteorological departments and scientific institutions, enabling them to make informed decisions and take preventive measures to ensure public safety and infrastructure.
Early warning systems also target operators of critical infrastructure such as dams, power plants, transportation networks and communication systems. These stakeholders rely on early warning information to assess risks to their infrastructure, implement protective measures and ensure the continuity of essential services during emergencies.
Special efforts are made to ensure that vulnerable and marginalised groups, including elderly individuals, children, persons with disabilities and socio-economically disadvantaged populations have access to early warning information and support. Further, community outreach programmes and targeted interventions are implemented to address the specific needs and challenges faced by these groups in preparing for and responding to natural hazards.
In conclusion, early warning systems aim to mitigate against disaster risks. By providing advanced notice of potential hazards, early warning systems enable individuals, communities, organisations and government to take appropriate measures to minimise the potential impact of the disasters.
Early warning systems must, therefore, aim to reach a broad range of stakeholders at various levels of society to maximise the effectiveness of disaster risk reduction efforts and enhance resilience to hazards. Therefore, stakeholders must act on the early warning messages to effectively contribute to saving lives, reducing damage and building safer and more resilient communities.
