photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

Snow covers downtown Lawrence on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.

Douglas County Emergency Management is inviting the public to attend a winter readiness workshop next month.

The workshop will be held at the auditorium in the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Dec. 11. The free event will help people recognize cold weather-related injuries and illnesses as well as understanding National Weather Service alerts.

The event will also inform people how to adjust their operations safely and communicate during extreme weather events, such as blizzards, ice storms or extreme cold. The training is designed for local businesses, nonprofits, event organizers, and agency communicators.

“Winter weather is something we can plan for, and this workshop gives our community practical steps to keep residents and visitors safe,” Deputy Emergency Management Director John Stipetich said in a press release from the county.

The workshop will include a panel discussion and facilitated small-group activities that will help people think through a variety of scenarios.

The event is offered in partnership with the National Weather Service, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, Douglas County Sustainability, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, the City of Lawrence’s Homeless Solutions Division, and Lawrence Parks, Recreation and Culture.

People interested in attending the workshop can register through Dec. 4 at https://bit.ly/4sQzdIq.