Several states are set to plunge into darkness during a solar eclipse in April, with authorities warning of the dangers that residents could face as a result.
One town supervisor said he was “scared as hell” about the task facing his team covering mountain roads and neighborhoods in the North Country of New York when the eclipse hits on the afternoon of Monday, April 8. Officials in a number of other states are facing the same problems.
Concerns over distracted drivers, gridlocked traffic from out-of-towners flocking to view the spectacle, cell phone outages from overloaded cell towers, large crowds gathering, and an increased demand for food, water, and fuel are creating a logistical problem for regions across the U.S. that are in the path of totality. Many schools across the country have even decided to close over safety fears.
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The path of totality will begin in Mexico when the moon appears to cover the entire surface of the sun, and will then extend across vast swathes of the United States which will fall into complete shadow for several minutes.
Millions of sky-gazers will witness the solar spectacle which will occur in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse, according to NASA, before the path of the eclipse then moves away into Canada.
The population in parts of the Adirondack Mountains in New York is expected to double in the days around the eclipse, with troopers predicting widespread disruption on the roads that could lead to stranded drivers and cause difficulties for 911 emergency vehicles.
The town of Tupper Lake has just four gas stations, but up to 8,000 people are expected to descend on the area. Tupper Lake town supervisor Rick Dattola said adverts in the local press will warn residents to ensure their fridges and gas tanks are full. Dattola told local outlet the Adirondack Explorer: “I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m scared as hell.”
Newsweek has reached out to Dattola by email seeking further information and comment.
New York State Police said chiefs had “developed an emergency operation plan in collaboration with other state, local, and federal law enforcement, emergency services and transportation agencies.”
The agency added: “The purpose of the planning process for this event is to address the potential impacts within the North Country and to minimize any negative effects associated with such a large influx of visitors to the local area.
“Strike teams will be strategically deployed to monitor traffic and respond rapidly to any issues that may interfere with the safe flow of traffic or affect the quick clearance of any incidents.”
It is a similar story in other states too.
Some parts of Texas are also concerned about the massive strain that crowds will put on local resources. Travis County, Kendall County, Hill County, Kerr County and Bell County are among those who have issued disaster declarations in advance of the eclipse.
The declaration statement said such measures were necessary “in anticipation of extremely large crowds, increased traffic, and enormous strains on first responders, hospitals, and roads on the days leading up to, on, and after the day of the upcoming total solar eclipse.”
Residents in states due to be affected by the eclipse should monitor local news reports and alerts issued by their cities or police forces on social media to ensure they have the most up-to-date advice for their areas.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.