Global Emergency Alert System List: 3 Most Notable Systems

Global warming, bad industrial practices, and other factors have made the earth more vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters. On the other hand, everyone in this world has the right to get early emergency alerts as a form of protection. Thus, a global emergency alert system is an essential establishment.

A global system offers universal protection to people worldwide. This system will alert governments in affected countries when there is a hazard affecting large communities. Therefore, they can prepare themselves for this disaster. This system is especially useful for poor and vulnerable countries.

Is There a Global Emergency Alert System?

Emergencies come in various forms, such as tsunamis and extreme weather events. Consequently, it will take complicated and sophisticated technology to build a global-level emergency alert system that can provide emergency warnings in all situations.

However, it does not mean that there is no global emergency warning system. Currently, the world has several international warning systems in place for various conditions. Some offer warnings for multiple disasters, while others provide alerts for a specific hazard. What are they?

1. Early Warnings for All

Early Warnings for All is the future international emergency alert system. The UN initiated this system in 2022 and expected it to be ready by the end of 2027. The motivation for establishing Early Warnings for All is climate change.

This condition will result in more frequent extreme weather events. Therefore, the UN intends to provide extreme-weather-related warnings to protect people in vulnerable countries. This form of protection can minimize the number of victims and financial loss in those countries.

Early Warnings for All will assist vulnerable countries in establishing an excellent and effective early warning system through several phases.

• Disaster Risk Knowledge: UN office, UNDRR, will lead countries in collecting data and conducting risk assessments to gain better knowledge on extreme weather hazards, risks, and trends. Therefore, they are aware of those risks and can create risk maps.

• Detection, Monitoring, Analysis, and Forecasting: WMO leads disaster monitoring and early warning services. Consequently, member countries can monitor the right parameters and create science-based extreme weather forecasts.

• Preparedness and Response Capabilities: The objective of this assistance is to support countries in establishing national and community response capabilities. The leader in improving countries’ preparedness and response capabilities is IFRC. 

• Warning Dissemination and Communication: ITU leads member countries in communicating disaster risks and disseminating early warnings. This global emergency alert system ensures the alert reaches all people who are at risk.

• EWARS

Early Warning, Alert, and Response System (EWARS) is a mechanism developed by the WHO. The objective of this system is to reduce injuries/sickness and deaths caused by public health dangers or prioritized diseases that may develop into outbreaks.

WHO designed this system to enhance the detection of epidemic-prone diseases in difficult settings, such as post-natural disaster periods and conflict zones. This system contains various tools, including desktop and mobile applications.

To examine and respond to emergencies, WHO provides EWARS in a box. It contains a set of tools required to rapidly launch early warning, alert, and response activities. How does EWARS work?

• Early Warning: EWARS mobile collects data and automatically publishes weekly or monthly reports based on the collected data. In this phase, the system also sends an early warning to reporting facilities when there is a potential emergency.

• Alert: EWARS mobile will disseminate an alert within the application via SMS or email when a condition meets EWARS standards/requirements for triggering a warning.

• Response: EWARS collects case-based data through various methods to help related parties analyze the emergency and decide the best actions to achieve the objective of EWARS.

• GDAC

Global Disaster Alert Coordination System (GDACS) is an international-level emergency alert system initiated by UN-OCHA and the European Commission. The objective of this system is to unite and improve disaster-related information exchange.

GDACS also aims to enhance the coordination of international relief efforts. This system was first available in 2004. Moreover, its works cover multiple hazards, such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.

This system monitors potential disasters by collecting real-time disaster-related data or information. GDACS also combines this data with socio-demographic data to analyze the impact of the disaster on the communities.

After analyzing the data, GDAC will send the result of the risk analysis to subscribers via e-mail, SMS, or fax. This system will also post a global emergency notification or alert on its official website.

A global emergency alert system is an excellent tool to communicate emergency information and reduce fatalities due to disasters. However, governments must not rely on this system alone in alert dissemination. They should have an excellent EAS to reduce disaster risks in their countries. To establish the best EAS, please visit smsbroadcaster.com.