Evaluating the Effectiveness of Early Warning Systems in Reducing Loss of Life in Natural Disasters: A case study of Greece

• Published in: Journal of risk analysis and crisis response Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 33
• Main Authors: Kalogiannidis, Stavros, Kalfas, Dimitrios, Kontsas, Stamatis, Papaevangelou, Olympia, Chatzitheodoridis, Fotios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 31.03.2025
• ISSN: 2210-8491; 2210-8505
• DOI: 10.54560/jracr.v15i1.547

This paper assesses the impact of Early Warning Systems (EWS) on minimizing loss of life during calamities using Greece case. EWS are useful in disaster risk reduction due to their ability to issue alarm, offer early hazard forecast, educate the public and use technology to enhance the response action. This study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of these six components through a survey of 353 environmental professionals and specialists in Greece. The results show that the Greek EWS tends to offer early warning in most events, which assists in preparing the community. But still, there are critics who argue that the effectiveness of the system is still lacking in delivering urgency of threats. Though they admit that they have a high level of confidence in their hazard predictions, there remain issues with reliability, which need to be worked on constantly to retain the public’s confidence. Although, increased public awareness and education activities have played a positive role in increasing understanding about the EWS, there are shortcomings existing in making sure that everyone realizes what steps they should take when they get a warning. Automated systems such as the IoT implemented to monitor hazardous events and AI integrated to forecast such events have made surveillance faster and more precise. However, access as a concept remains limited, especially for the sensitized population, and there is a need to adopt more inclusive methods of passing information. It also suggests the development of communication-Intensive EWS through the integration of mobile alerting, social media, and other community engagement programs. This study adds value to the existing body of knowledge and practice in disaster management by providing insights into factors that determine success of an EWS in reducing fatalities. Proposals include improving the communication of risks, improving the consistency of forecasts through the use of AI, focusing on more education among the public and spending on improved systems for monitoring. Better communication with relevant authorities and harmonizing of technology-enhanced solutions will provide more efficient and coherent disaster management in areas such as Greece and other high-risk regions.