Improved impact forecasting and early warning systems supporting the rapid deployment of first responders in vulnerable areas

Enhanced risk and crisis assessment and preparedness to natural hazards rely on tools using different types of data, information and forecasts (e.g. meteorological data, physical data related to geohazards and climate projections etc.) which may enable to anticipate the occurrence of disasters. Based on the legacy of existing solutions, in particular in the area of extreme weather events, further developments are required to compare impact forecasting and early warning approaches at international level. The aim of such comparisons would be to design EU-wide decision-support and information systems supporting planning authorities and civil protection agencies in the rapid deployment of first responders and communication to citizens in vulnerable areas in the case of extreme climate events or geological disasters. This platform development might be prone to international cooperation, hence supporting the implementation of both EU policies and the UN Sendai Framework for Action. Innovation actions should improve measures and technologies that are needed to better plan for extreme climate events and geological disasters, reduce risks, as well as manage the immediate consequences of natural disasters, in particular regarding emergency responses. This should lead to sound and timely operational forecasts of severe (short-term focus) extreme weather events or geological hazards to aid planning authorities, civil protection agencies and first responders in their decision-making. Built up on developments from relevant H2020 projects, a European-scale multi-hazard platform should be designed, taking into account existing developments at EU level and available space information, in order to facilitate the identification of expected natural hazards with great specificity in time and space. The aim is to utilise largely existing capabilities and combine them into a single, user-friendly platform.

In order to achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged, in particular with vulnerable countries, e.g. African and South Mediterranean members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Where possible and relevant, synergy-building and clustering initiatives with successful proposals in the same area should be considered, including the organisation of international conferences in close coordination with the Community for European Research and Innovation for Security (CERIS) activities and/or other international events.