Early Warning is defined as providing an advance notice of some impending event or development. The term is often used together with early action (also known as anticipatory action or forecast-based action), which means taking steps to protect people before a disaster occurs, based on early warning or forecasts. Early warning is part of integrated risk management (IRM), a circular model that describes the handling of risks. Early warning is an element of response within IRM and enhances preparation for interventions.