photo by: Douglas County Public Works

Flooding is pictured along Route 1045, also known as old Highway 59, in southern Douglas County, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019.

Douglas County Emergency Management is inviting the public to two free upcoming workshops about heat readiness and extreme weather training next month.

The extreme heat readiness workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 9, in Flory Meeting Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. The workshop will cover how to recognize heat-related illnesses, understand National Weather Service alerts and adjust operations safely during periods of extreme heat.

The event is offered in partnership with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, Douglas County Sustainability, National Weather Service, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health and Lawrence Parks, Recreation and Culture.

“With thousands of visitors expected in our community for World Cup events this summer, we want to make sure local organizations feel confident and prepared,” Deputy Emergency Management Director John Stipetich said in a news release. “Extreme heat is something we can plan for, and this workshop gives businesses and event organizers practical steps to keep residents and visitors safe when temperatures rise.”

The workshop will include a panel discussion, followed by facilitated group conversations and “what-if” scenarios that ask participants to think through how they would respond in real-world situations.

People can register for the heat readiness workshop at https://dgcoks.gov/form/heatworkshop.

Another free upcoming workshop will focus on severe weather training. The event is in partnership with the University of Kansas Emergency Management and the National Weather Service – Topeka Office.

The training will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 12 at Capitol Federal Hall in Room 1111, 1654 Naismith Drive on the KU campus. The two-hour workshop will include information about severe thunderstorm development, identification of storm features and safety tips.

“Preparedness is the key to staying safe during severe weather events,” Stipetich said in a separate news release from the county. “By taking the necessary steps and staying informed, we can protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.”

Stipetich encouraged county residents to sign up for severe weather alerts through the free Northeast Kansas Regional Notification System at dgcoks.gov/emalerts. The system will send out notifications via text message, email or phone call.