Federal Agencies Launch Joint Effort to Increase Heat Risk Awareness

- May 6-7 Online Event Open to Public Ahead of Summer Events

Summer-like heat arrived in Texas on the first day of Spring this year, highlighting the importance of ensuring all Texans take the needed steps to reduce heat-related illness and death ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other summertime events like outdoor concerts and festivals.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Centers for Disease Control are leading a group of nearly 30 federal agencies to help build the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS), an effort to achieve a heat resilient nation empowered to effectively address extreme heat and its impacts.

The group is offering a free, online workshop May 6-7 which is open to newsrooms and the general public which focuses on athletes, spectators, and workers at outdoor events. The event will take place on May 6-7, 2026, from 11:00am-3:30 p.m. CT each day.

The workshop, hosted in partnership with Duke University, will discuss:

• Heat preparedness at outdoor events (e.g., sporting events, road races, concerts, parades)
• Tools, resources, and strategies that event organizers and emergency managers can use to prepare for heat
• Case studies and lessons learned from communities that have had outdoor events affected by heat
• Scenario-based exercises for participants to strategize heat and event preparedness in their communities

REGISTRATION - PROGRAM INFORMATION

The U.S. is preparing to host several large-scale events during upcoming summers, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Local communities also are working to keep athletes and spectators safe from extreme heat at smaller-scale outdoor events, such as outdoor concerts, local sporting games, and more.

The May 6-7 workshop will bring together researchers, state and local governments, event organizers, emergency managers, and other participants to hear presentations and engage in discussions regarding heat safety at events for spectators and athletes recreating outdoors.

The workshop will also include engaging interactive exercises for participants to strategize how to promote heat safety at events in their communities.

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.