EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEMS 
Early Warning Systems are 
operational structures 
designed to forecast natural 
events which might cause 
disasters. 
The purpose of EWS is to 
reduce the impact of natural 
phenomena by means of an 
effective warning. There are two types of early warning systems: 
- CENTRALIZED 
- DESCENTRALIZED 
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEM 
The operational 
structure of an EWS 
is relatively simple.
COMPONENTS: 
- Hydrological Assessment, 
- Early Warning System Design 
and Implementation, 
- Data Management System 
- Community Organization 
- Routine Operations 
- Dissemination 
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEM
EWS cover various 
municipalities 
simultaneously. 
EWS COYOLATE 
Municipalities: 
- Santa Lucía Cotz. 
- Nueva Concepción 
- La Gomera 
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEM
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEMS 
Generally cover 
several effluents: 
Coyolate, 
Pantaleón, 
Cristobal, Aguná, 
Popoyá.
• EWS technical design. 
• Equipment implementation and gauging 
• Training to technicians that operate these systems. 
• Commissioning.
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEMS
DESIGN CRITERIA: 
Community system, locally 
operated by the basin 
communities, with the support of 
CONRED. 
Operation based on CONRED’s 
regional coordinators system. 
Implementation of simple and 
practical instruments at a 
reasonable cost, to guarantee the 
continuous operation of the 
system. 
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEMS
EWS IN GUATEMALA: 
- Coyolate - Samalá - Achiguate 
- María Linda - Polochic - Motagua 
EARLY WARNING 
SYSTEMS 
SIMILAR REGIONAL PROJECTS: 
OAS - 1,998 
RELSAT - FEMID -GTZ - ECHO 1,999. 
OEA


<*>     <re> <ty> Presentación PowerPoint </ty>   <in> Centro de Coordinación para la Prevención de los Desastres Naturales en América Central (CEPREDENAC). Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de  Desastres (CONRED). Comando Sur.
</in> <or> Presentado en: II Seminario Regional Centroamericano sobre Preparación de Desastres.
</or> <au> Centro de Coordinación para la Prevención de los Desastres Naturales en América Central (CEPREDENAC). Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de  Desastres (CONRED).
</au> <ti> Early Warning System.
 </ti> <pl> Guatemala, Noviembre 2001. </pl> xgestiónx xgestionx xlocalx xriesgox  </re> <*>