Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern Italy
It is essential to consider and to understand the social context in which an Early Warning System (EWS) is planned and to integrate all of its components, otherwise it is likely to fail. EWS are complex tools for disaster risk reduction which are only effective if they generate an appropriate respon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institut de Géographie Alpine
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Revue de Géographie Alpine |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/rga/1679 |
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| author | Carolina García |
| author_facet | Carolina García |
| author_sort | Carolina García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is essential to consider and to understand the social context in which an Early Warning System (EWS) is planned and to integrate all of its components, otherwise it is likely to fail. EWS are complex tools for disaster risk reduction which are only effective if they generate an appropriate response in the exposed population. Any effective EWS relies on the reaction capacity of all stakeholders. This reaction capacity is strongly dependent on how well EWS are integrated within their social context, especially with regards to potential marginalized and vulnerable communities. This dependence was confirmed in the study area in Valtellina di Tirano, northern Italy, which is recurrently affected by multiple mountain hazards. The local population is geographically marginalized due to restricted access to the region and exposure to hazardous events, and socially marginalized due to the lack of participation in decision making. Results of a survey show that the local population has low levels of perceived risk, a general lack of self-responsibility with regard to disaster risk reduction, and a tendency to transfer the responsibility to the authorities. However, respondents acknowledge and show interest in addressing their lack of preparedness and in participating actively in disaster risk reduction efforts. A follow-up survey demonstrates that significant variations in vulnerability within a given community over time, occur together with changes in traditional livelihood activities, economic systems and population demographics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-98e35492a041441d80e6accf93a8743b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0035-1121 1760-7426 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | Institut de Géographie Alpine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revue de Géographie Alpine |
| spelling | doaj-art-98e35492a041441d80e6accf93a8743b2025-01-10T15:54:30ZengInstitut de Géographie AlpineRevue de Géographie Alpine0035-11211760-74262012-03-01100110.4000/rga.1679Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern ItalyCarolina GarcíaIt is essential to consider and to understand the social context in which an Early Warning System (EWS) is planned and to integrate all of its components, otherwise it is likely to fail. EWS are complex tools for disaster risk reduction which are only effective if they generate an appropriate response in the exposed population. Any effective EWS relies on the reaction capacity of all stakeholders. This reaction capacity is strongly dependent on how well EWS are integrated within their social context, especially with regards to potential marginalized and vulnerable communities. This dependence was confirmed in the study area in Valtellina di Tirano, northern Italy, which is recurrently affected by multiple mountain hazards. The local population is geographically marginalized due to restricted access to the region and exposure to hazardous events, and socially marginalized due to the lack of participation in decision making. Results of a survey show that the local population has low levels of perceived risk, a general lack of self-responsibility with regard to disaster risk reduction, and a tendency to transfer the responsibility to the authorities. However, respondents acknowledge and show interest in addressing their lack of preparedness and in participating actively in disaster risk reduction efforts. A follow-up survey demonstrates that significant variations in vulnerability within a given community over time, occur together with changes in traditional livelihood activities, economic systems and population demographics.https://journals.openedition.org/rga/1679early warning systemsvulnerabilitymarginalizationresponsibilityintegration |
| spellingShingle | Carolina García Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern Italy Revue de Géographie Alpine early warning systems vulnerability marginalization responsibility integration |
| title | Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern Italy |
| title_full | Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern Italy |
| title_short | Designing and implementing more effective Integrated Early Warning Systems in mountain areas: a case study from Northern Italy |
| title_sort | designing and implementing more effective integrated early warning systems in mountain areas a case study from northern italy |
| topic | early warning systems vulnerability marginalization responsibility integration |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/rga/1679 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carolinagarcia designingandimplementingmoreeffectiveintegratedearlywarningsystemsinmountainareasacasestudyfromnorthernitaly |