A Workshop to Advance Drought Early Warning Communication for the Nation
Each year, tens of millions of Americans who are exposed to life-threatening natural hazards rely on early warning information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and their many state and local partners. Drought is a complex and slow moving hazard, and while extraordinary life-saving advancements have been made in tornado, flash flood, heat, and hurricane early warning, comparatively less is known about how to most effectively provide drought early warning communications that result in action.
In light of this gap, NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder will host A Workshop to Advance Drought Early Warning Communication for the Nation on September 10–11, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado.
This workshop brings together experts in early warning systems, risk communication, public engagement, and drought to assess and improve vital public communication efforts. Specifically, the workshop will identify:
- What is known about how NIDIS, local media, and water managers communicate drought risk
- Recent advancements in social science–informed drought risk communication efforts
- What communication is needed by individuals who manage drought risk and impacts in their communities
- Ongoing challenges to effectively communicate drought risk
- Opportunities to produce more useful and compelling drought risk information and early warning messages.
Over the one-and-a-half-day workshop, participants will work collaboratively to assess and provide feedback on drought early warning and risk communication messaging, platforms, and products. Participants will be challenged to consider what is unique about droughts, and how they can best integrate new impact information into risk communication messaging. Actionable guidance generated during the workshop will be used to advance a state-of-the-art drought early warning and risk communication tools for NOAA and regional organizations.
The findings from this workshop will culminate in a report to provide actionable recommendations to improve drought early warning communications and support timely, accurate, and informed decision-making and risk reduction for the United States.
For more information, contact Eleanor Hasenbeck.
Location
University of Colorado Boulder
Institute of Behavioral Science
1440 15th Street, Room 155A
Boulder, Colorado
Agenda
More details to be announced.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Optional Welcome Reception at Avanti Boulder, 1401 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado
5 to 7 p.m. MDT
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Workshop – Day 1
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. MDT
Friday, September 11, 2026
Workshop – Day 2
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. MDT
Lodging
Room blocks are available at the Moxy Boulder University from September 9-11, 2026. The last day to book within the room block is Monday, August 24, 2026. The conference will be held at the Institute of Behavioral Science (1440 15th St). This location is a 5 to 10 minute walk (about two blocks) from the Moxy Boulder University.
This rate may be extended days pre/post based on availability. To add these nights, contact the hotel coordinator directly at 720-986-1362 or ngarcia@vhghotels.com.
Regular Room Reservations: Book your group rate for Natural Hazards
Government Rate Reservations: Book your group rate for Natural Hazards - Government Rate
Transportation
Getting to Boulder
Denver International Airport (DIA) is the closest major airport. There are several convenient ways to get from the airport to the Moxy Boulder University hotel:
- Public Transit: The most cost-effective option is the Regional Transportation District (RTD)'s express AB1 bus. The bus departs from the DIA Transit Center (located at the south end of the main terminal, under the Westin Hotel) and drops off throughout Boulder. The AB1 bus stop nearest to the conference hotel and venue is Broadway - Euclid University of Colorado, which is less than a half mile away via pedestrian-friendly routes. The bus trip takes approximately 60–75 minutes. You can find schedules, stop locations, and ticketing information on the RTD AB1 Route Page.
- Rideshare & Taxis: Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxi services operate out of DIA. The drive to Boulder usually takes 45 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day.
- Airport Shuttles: Several commercial ride shuttles offer direct transfers from DIA to Boulder and can be booked in advance.
Getting Around Boulder
Boulder has excellent infrastructure for visitors without a car. Uber and Lyft are both widely available throughout Boulder for quick, point-to-point travel. Boulder is renowned for its pedestrian and bicycle-friendly pathways. You can easily rent an e-bike through Boulder BCycle, a bike-sharing program, which features dozens of stations across Boulder and the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
Core public bus routes (including the HOP, SKIP, DASH, and JUMP) are accessible from both the conference venue and hotel, and link these areas to the University of Colorado, downtown (including the Pearl Street Mall), and surrounding neighborhoods. For route maps and schedules, visit the RTD Website.
