The last total solar eclipse to occur in North America was in 2017 from Oregon to South Carolina, in which some counties along the path of totality saw a more than 200% increase in traffic, a fact sheet produced by Texas A&M University reported. The state of Tennessee saw over 1 million out-of-state visitors.
Travis County recently declared a local disaster as the county prepares its first responders for the event. Central Texas is expected to see three to four times the normal population surrounding the event, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
As the sun and the moon align for this rare celestial event, Williamson County officials urge residents to consider some of the following tips:
- Avoid stopping on road shoulders to view the eclipse; it can lead to traffic hazards.
- Keep emergency vehicles in mind when parking. Maintaining room for emergency vehicles is critical during large-scale events, such as the eclipse.
- While driving, be on alert for distracted pedestrians looking to the sky.
- Limit travel on major roadways in Central Texas on April 8 due to increased traffic for eclipse viewing.
- Reschedule nonessential appointments for April 8 to reduce travel.
- Prepare for possible travel delays; consider carpooling and allow extra time for travel before and after the eclipse.
- Keep an emergency kit in your car.
- Refill gas, and stock up on food and essential items before the eclipse to mitigate inventory shortages caused by increased visitors.
- Establish a family communication plan in case of cell phone service disruptions.
- If unable to reach 911 in an emergency, try calling from a landline, using a phone with a different carrier or switching to Wi-Fi calling, if possible.
More information on road conditions can be found at
www.drivetexas.org.
The options
