Tracking the risks and exposure to conflicts and natural disasters in regions, countries and localities, and assessing how such crises can affect migrants and their assets, is a vital step towards protecting migrants. Understanding regional, national and local risks, and overlaying this information with data on the location and characteristics of migrants can inform targeted preparation and response efforts. All conflicts and natural disasters are not entirely unpredictable. Conflicts may be preceded by various signs, including protests, xenophobic violence and civil unrest. While many natural disasters occur with great immediacy, different countries and regions are more prone to specific types of hazards than others; those related to weather events for example, often occur with some forewarning, and some are cyclical and recurrent. A number of early warning systems exist to monitor hazards and alert communities. Often, local actors may possess the most timely and accurate information on impending crises and are valuable sources of knowledge.