Epic's annual Users Group Meeting runs from Aug. 27 to Aug. 30 at its Verona, Wis.-based headquarters, and local news outlets are warning residents that traffic from the event will likely clog roads in and out of the area, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
The company expects about 17,000 attendees, including 8,000 executives from Epic's client healthcare organizations and 9,000 Epic staffers.
The area has suffered massive rainfall in the days leading up to the event. Flooding has closed roads, which could make the congestion worse, according to The Cap Times.
"Traffic obviously is compromised and it's going to be compounded as we go into next week because we're hosting one of the biggest annual events in the city, and that is Epic's User Group Meeting," said Madison, Wis., Mayor Paul Soglin. "They will be relying on buses, which will hopefully cut down on the number of vehicles both for their guests and their employees."
The EHR giant seems to be well-prepared. A company spokesperson told The Cap Times it has been communicating with city officials, hotels and others. Epic has also been working to set up shuttle routes and alternative methods of transportation to alleviate traffic concerns.
This year's UGM theme is "The Great Outdoors."