Disasters and hazards cause loss of life and property and create social and economic disruption. Exogenous (floods, drought, storms, landslides and avalanche), endogenous (volcanism and earthquakes) or anthropogenic (collapse of structures, desertification, fires, accidents etc): all have impact. New concepts of disaster management focus on risk management rather than the impossibility of complete hazard prevention. Maps are important for the whole risk-management process; for knowledge, to make decisions, to communicate information and to raise awareness.

Working Group
ICA has decided to form a Working Group on Early Warning and Risk Management whose broad objective is to explore and co-ordinate how cartography can be used to rapidly prepare and produce simple, standardised and informative maps for use in tackling natural and manmade hazards. The Group’s first activity was to organise two sessions on Early Warning and Risk Assessment during the 2005 International Cartographic Conference in A Coruña. Terms of Reference have been agreed:

• provide leadership in the development of concepts and standardisation of early warning for hazard, risk and vulnerability mapping and cartographic modelling
  
• promote the use of remotely sensed and other geospatial data and various analysis techniques for early warning and risk management by organising workshops
  
• promote capacity building, quality mapping and cartographic modelling for early warning and risk management through topic-related publications
  
• participate in and contribute to global initiatives, for instance through the maintenance of a website
  
• promote hazard, risk and vulnerability mapping for risk management and communication
  
• develop mechanisms and networks for exchange of information among relevant stakeholders.