States of emergency declared as millions of tourists expected for solar eclipse

06 April 2024 , 19:56

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With thousands expected to flock to certain areas in the country to see the eclipse on Monday, several emergency declarations were issued (Image: Getty Images)

Ahead of the rare total solar eclipse on Monday, several regions of the US and Canada have declared states of emergency as they prepare for a potential influx of millions of tourists.

On Monday, April 8, the Moon will totally cover the Sun in an incredibly rare celestial phenomenon that will be able to be seen from across the US, with the path of totality streaking from Texas to Maine and dipping into parts of southern Canada.

An estimated 4 million people are expected to travel for the big event, which will be the last major one of its kind in America until 2044 when a much smaller but similar eclipse will grace Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. The next large one will occur the following year.

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The path of totality for the eclipse sweeps from Texas to Maine (Google)

But many of the areas that find themselves to be the best places to view the phenomenon aren't readily able to handle the mass influx of people, leading to many declaring states of emergency, which can activate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the thought that FEMA might be able to provide supplies to areas in need.

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Here is a list of the places that have declared states of emergency ahead of Monday's celestial event and what some of the declarations entail.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

The city of Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, declared a state of emergency earlier in the week, a preemptive action as the North American landmark anticipates more than 1 million tourists amid the event.

It's the first time an eclipse will touch the province since 1979 and after the landmark was declared to be one of the best places to view the phenomenon, tourists quickly started booking flights and making travel plans.

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With millions of tourists anticipated in several regions of the US amid the eclipse on Monday, states of emergency were declared in several places (AFP via Getty Images)

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said in March that he expects the small city to receive the most visitors it's ever had in a day. That's why he declared a state of emergency, which mobilised additional entities to oversee traffic and prepare for emergency situations.

All of Indiana

The entire state of Indiana was put under an emergency declaration by Governor Eric Holcomb last week, as he cited an influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region amid the "once-in-a-lifetime" experience.

The masses of people could impact emergency response times, he stated in his executive order, as cell towers could be down and other impediments to daily life could occur.

The state of emergency is in effect until 11.59pm local time on April 9. In the order, Holcomb cited Indiana's membership in the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), which is a national program that allows states to call on each other for help amid emergencies.

All of Arkansas

The entire state of Arkansas, which also finds itself in the path of totality, is under a state of emergency amid concerns over a mass influx of people for the eclipse on Monday.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the declaration on Friday as she also revealed the allocation of $100,000 to assist with commerce and travel. Backed-up traffic, she said, could impede necessary deliveries, and she hoped to alleviate that.

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The eclipse is slated to last for about 260 seconds, or just over four minutes, on Monday (AFP via Getty Images)

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Sanders released a statement about the declaration on Friday, which reads: "This will assist commercial carriers transporting essential items to customers in Arkansas during the eclipse. We want to make sure Arkansans and all visitors have an enjoyable experience and come back again and again."

Several Texas counties

With the path of totality expected to grace much of Texas on Monday, regions of the state that find themselves near or in the line declared states of emergency as many cited traffic and the need to be prepared for emergencies.

Millions of visitors are expected to travel to the region to view the celestial phenomenon, and, just like the other areas that declared emergencies, the region can't handle that many people with ease.

Several New York counties

Also in the path of totality are several counties in Upstate New York, including Essex, Oswego and Wayne Counties. All declared states of emergency, citing potentially dangerous influxes of traffic and potentially severe cell service disruptions.

According to local stations WPTZ and WSYR, the declarations are slated to last from April 6 through April 10 as the counties buckle down for masses of people.

Increased preparations in Ohio

While the state of Ohio hasn't yet officially declared a state of emergency, its emergency operations teams were activated by Governor Mike DeWine ahead of the celestial phenomenon.

In a press release from his office, he stated: "While we are confident that our local communities have fully prepared for the influx of spectators, having our Emergency Operations Center at the ready will allow us to immediately respond if any unexpected needs arise."

Jeremiah Hassel