Disaster, precipitated by a natural hazard, can be defined as ‘a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. Disasters are increasing in number and severity and international institutional frameworks to reduce disasters are being strengthened all over the world. Many activities are being carried out to improve different phases of Disaster Management (DM) such as preparedness, awareness, response, recovery and mitigation. Early Warning is obviously a central point within the whole chain, as proper warning systems can collect and analyze data in real-time as disasters occur and, when necessary, transmit early warnings to cause mitigation responses to lessen the disaster’s impact on lives and property. The EWS generally, detects disasters in real time and determines the type, magnitude, speed, direction, and the expected geographic area to be impacted.

Consequently, a Disaster Risk Response Framework Plan has been recently put forward in Lebanon that established a Disaster Risk Management Unit under the Prime Minister’s Office with coordination responsibilities in the prevention and preparedness phases of risk management. Taking this fact together with the stressing need for capacity building in disaster risk mapping and management, and to scientifically assist the DRM Unit, the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L) established, in 2015, under the framework of the CAPWATER and in cooperation with the CIMA foundation (Italy) a Sustainable Natural Resource management platform and early warning system equipped with skilled experts, hardware and software, internet-based satellite receiving station and associated infrastructure for the production and storage of geo-information in order to properly assist both emergency operations, implement proper prevention and preparedness actions, serving stakeholders and decision makers for disaster risk management. The SuNaR established cooperation with the IRC climate centre (Storm and Heat wave forecast), CIMA institute (Forest Fires and Floods), IMWI (Drought Monitoring).