Forecasting hazards, averting disasters

2.1.2   Sources of forecast information

FbA uses a wide range of climate forecast information, 

based on what is available and appropriate. Systems 

using probabilistic forecast information typically draw 

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on products from international, regional and national 

forecasting centres. Products from international and 

regional forecasting centres are most common as these 

are freely available and considered reliable. Where 

appropriate, these are complemented with products 

from national hydrological and meteorological services. 

The Red Cross FbF pilots for flooding in Bangladesh 

and Togo, for example, use forecasts produced and used 

by national early warning systems in those countries. 

Drought/food security hybrid systems typically use a range 

of information on food production, access and livelihood 

outcomes from national agencies and international 

assessments (e.g. FEWS NET, Integrated Food 

Security Phase Classification (IPC)), and merge these into 

an assessment of food security status and likely risk.