Missouri is joining federal and local partners in preparing safety and monitoring plans for World Cup 2026 in Kansas City.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Kurt Schaefer says the department’s Environmental Emergency Response Division will play a key role in monitoring air quality and protecting public health.
“So our EER have equipment that allows them to do air monitoring for anything from hazardous chemicals to radiological material," Schaefer says. "It's no different than anything like a Super Bowl or anything else where these things are employed.”
Schaefer says the department will position its state-of-the-art monitoring instruments in strategic locations around the event. And if the equipment were to detect something?
“If there is any type of an indication of something in the air that shouldn't be, there's an immediate response from law enforcement, other environmental emergency responders," Schaefer explains. "Hopefully we don't ever need to address those issues, but should something be an issue, I think it's important for the public to understand that those protocols are in place.”
Schaefer says the setup and response is similar to what would be at a major event like the Super Bowl.
“For anything from hazardous chemicals to radiological material and lots of other materials, anything that would potentially pose an issue for the public," Schaefer says
Schaefer says the EPA will also have monitoring equipment on site, with crews working together to place it in strategic locations around the event.
Missournet