Big concern about traffic through weekend and during total solar eclipse on Monday
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After months of preparation and hundreds of hours planning for the eclipse event on Monday, EMA Director Anne Strouth presented county commissioners with a detailed presentation on steps taken by local agencies to best prepare.
The rare event has been visible in the United States only 15 times since 1867, with the last one happening in 2017 where it was visible in parts of Kentucky. The last one in Ohio was in 1806 − three years after Ohio became a state. Thomas Jefferson was president and the Lewis and Clark Expedition had just ended after reaching the Pacific Ocean as they prepared to return home.
The eclipse will begin in Ashland County at 1:51 p.m. with totality at 3:08 p.m. It all comes to an end at 4:30. The county is one of only nine counties in the state with center line viewing, and another 26 Ohio counties sit in the path of totality.
Strouth said fire, EMS and the State Highway Patrol will be at full capacity Monday, as will the Ashland County Sheriff's Office, which will be strategically placed throughout the county.
"We know where our hot spots are and where the traffic congestions would be," she said. "The biggest concern for us in Ashland County is traffic. And injury to people not wearing the glasses properly. There is a plan with all the agencies.”
She said the special glasses need to be worn during the event, "definitely beginning at 1:51. That is about the time it is supposed to hit. If you want to look up that is when you need your glasses.”
Strouth expressed five main areas residents should plan on doing ahead of the event to minimize potential problems. They are:
Consider watching at home or walking to Freer Field
Have a three-day supply of food and medicine on hand
Fill up cars with gas before the weekend begins
Reschedule appointments for after the eclipse
Try not to travel during eclipse weekend, the day of the event and the day following
One area most area citizens may not focus on could be the possible limits of cellular communications with the anticipated population surge.
“Rest assured, 9-1-1 calls have priority,” Strouth said. “There should not be an issue with 9-1-1 calls because those take priority and everybody else drops when there is that amount of calls. If you are calling a 289 number, the 9-1-1 will have priority over that.”
The 2017 Kentucky eclipse has given Ohio an idea of what to expect.
“Knowing what happened that time in the state of Kentucky has prompted the State of Ohio to prepare for this,” Strouth said. “And why do we need to prepare? Because of safety. There are a lot of safety issues and concerns that go along with viewing this total solar eclipse.”
“I heard this morning that the governor authorized the National Guard to help out on it,” said Commissioner Mike Welch.
He added people should not pull off to the side of the road during the eclipse because of the problems it may present for emergency responses.
Strouse said the CERT will be at Freer Field, where there will be a first aid station.
She also encourages resident to walk where they are going if possible.
“Walk with as many as you can,” she said. “Because with that much traffic in one location, you know how long it takes to clear that out and what happens if other people come here from Ohio?”
During the presentation it was noted Ohio is within a one-day drive of 70% of the U.S. population and anywhere from 5,000-50,000 eclipse enthusiasts could make their way to Ashland County over the next several days, or any “center-line communities.” Potential traffic congestion on US Route 250, I-71, Ohio 30 and Ohio 60 has the potential to last for hours before and after the event.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Traffic a major concern in Ashland County during total solar eclipse
