Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems
Each year, thousands of lives are lost or negatively impacted by natural disasters for which adequate warnings were either not available or not received. Effective early warning systems for natural hazards not only save lives; they also protect the livelihoods of communities and national development gains.
This Website seeks to support international efforts to develop the technical and human infrastructures for successful natural hazards early warning systems. Sponsored by NOAA/NWS, and in accordance with the disaster risk reduction efforts of the WMO and GEO, this site offers materials that share expertise in assessing risks, developing functional and sustainable monitoring and warning services, creating proper dissemination and communication systems, and coordinating with communities to increase their response capabilities. Hosting on The COMET Program's MetEd Website provides proximity to substantial educational and training resources on related atmospheric and environmental topics.
The materials and links provided here will aid the United Nation's long-term goal of establishing a "worldwide early warning system for all natural hazards building on existing national and regional capacity." Beginning with Tsunami and Flash Flood hazards, these collected materials will contribute to developing interoperable and sustainable early warning systems. The materials include description of the bases for a sound technical Concept of Operations (CONOPS), as well as guidelines and strategies for developing the multi-organization coordination required for an effective end-to-end warning system of earth observations, data and information collection, hazard forecasting or detection and warning decision support, warning product dissemination and notification, and community based disaster management. 
The intended audiences for this site include not only those responsible for monitoring and disseminating warnings, but those who establish policy, plan, govern, and manage at all levels of natural hazard emergency response.