The Global Disaster Alert System is at the crossover between early warning and emergency response. By monitoring all the early warning networks

• tsunami
• earthquake
• flood watch
• tropical cyclone

the system becomes aware of disasters very soon after they happen, and provides an automated estimate of the damages which starts the wheels turning as soon as possible, by informing the Virtual OSOCC community who can consider their response.

The team then prepares a manual damage estimate, using the first eye witness reports and other sources, and then it's job is done.

Disaster impacts are estimated by considering nearby population centres and critical infrastructure, with a little extra modelling if required.