1. Session V: Integration of Risk Information and Early Warnings in Emergency Preparedness, Planning and Response Ricardo Mena, OCHA

2. A few fundamental questions: Does the vulnerable population know the risks it faces and how to protect itself? Is the political decision-making process to declare an alert and order an evacuation clearly defined? Are community awareness and education programes on disaster preparedness and response in place? Are alarm signals well know and recognised?

3. A few fundamental questions Are operating procedures established on how the warnings are supposed to be handled? Do monitoring institutions have a 24 hour 7/7 duty system? Are they adequately linked to the Civil Protection Agency? Have civil protection officials developed an emergency operations plan and has it been tested through yearly simulations?

4. A few fundamental questions Does the community understand the implications that early warnings could have on their socioeconomic development and how to deal with them? Are the alarm signals fail proof? Are the main hazards covered by early warning systems? If so, which? Are evacuation routes marked?