When the Weather Calls a Timeout

Guest: Adam Fouche, University of GeorgiaWhen you head to a big football game or an outdoor concert, you’re probably thinking about the music, the crowd, and the excitement in the air. But behind the scenes, there’s another team hard at work — one that’s watching the skies. From lightning delays to fast-moving thunderstorms, weather can quickly turn a packed stadium or festival into a serious safety challenge. Protecting tens of thousands of people requires careful planning, constant monitoring, and sometimes very quick decisions. Today we’re joined by Adam Fouche, Interim Associate Vice President for Environmental Safety, Risk, and Resiliency at the University of Georgia. His team works behind the scenes to help keep major events — from concerts to packed game days — safe when the weather takes a turn.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:53 Adam Fouche's Weather Geek Origin Story02:45 Adam's Role in Weather Safety at UGA04:09 Weather Safety in Large Campus Events07:09 Weather Risk Assessment for Events10:22 Lightning Protocols and the 8-Mile Rule12:57 Debate on Lightning Delay Rules13:44 Break 115:15 Weather Support Models at SEC Schools18:01 Collaboration with National Weather Service20:04 Communication Strategies for Weather Risks21:59 Psychology of Weather Risk Perception25:01 Venue Design and Weather Vulnerabilities26:07 Break 226:38 Understanding Severe vs. Non-Severe Weather30:09 Technology and Weather Monitoring Tools33:33 Public Safety Advice for Weather PreparednessSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.