Designing a Cultural Heritage Articulated Warning System (CHAWS) strategy to improve disaster risk preparedness in Brazil Victor Marchezini CEMADEN – National Early Warning and Monitoring Centre of Natural Disaster, São José dos Campos, Brazil and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências do Sistema Terrestre (CCST), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, São José dos Campos, Brazil Allan Yu Iwama Universidad de Los Lagos, Centre of Local and Regional Development Studies (CEDER), Osorno, Chile Danilo Celso Pereira University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, and Rodrigo Silva da Conceição, Rachel Trajber and Débora Olivato CEMADEN – National Early Warning and Monitoring Centre of Natural Disaster, São Paulo, Brazil Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study an articulated warning system that provides information about the heritage at risk and encourages a dialogue between the heritage sector, civil defense agencies and local communities. Design/methodology/approach – The databases from the National Heritage Institute, National Civil Defense, National Geological Service and National Early Warning System were investigated and the local community provided input which helped form a participatory risk mapping strategy for a warning system in the heritage sector. Findings – There is little knowledge of the Brazilian heritage that is at risk and a lack of coordination between the cultural heritage and DRR sectors. This means that there is a need to organize the geo-referenced databases so that information can be shared and the public provided with broader access. As a result, there can be a greater production, dissemination and application of knowledge to help protect the cultural heritage. Practical implications – The findings can be included in the debate about the importance of framing disaster risk management (DRM) policies in the Brazilian heritage sector. Social implications – The findings and maps of the case study in the town of São Luiz do Paraitinga involve the heritage sector, civil defense agencies and local people and can be used for disaster risk preparedness. Originality/value – A DRM program is being formulated in Brazil. However, the kind of strategy needed to incorporate the heritage sector in this program stills needs to be planned, and the knowledge of the cultural heritage at risk is a key factor when faced with this new social and scientific challenge. Keywords Warning, Cultural heritage, Disaster risk management, Capacity building Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction A cultural heritage can be defined as comprising a broad spectrum of places such as historic cities, living cultural landscapes, gardens or sacred forests and mountains, as well as technological or industrial achievements in the recent or distant past and even sites with Disaster Prevention and Management © Emerald Publishing Limited 0965-3562 DOI 10.1108/DPM-07-2018-0227 Received 26 July 2018 Revised 21 November 2018 22 January 2019 29 March 2019 Accepted 29 March 2019 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/0965-3562.htm CHAWS strategy