How is Ohio preparing for Monday’s total solar eclipse?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Gov. Mike DeWine joined other Ohio leaders on Friday morning to outline how the state is preparing for Monday’s rare total solar eclipse.

DeWine hosted the 10:30 a.m. conference at the Ohio Emergency Operations Center given the state is expecting an influx of visitors. The governor was accompanied by representatives from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, Ohio Adjutant General’s Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Department of Transportation.

DeWine is not activating the Ohio National Guard for the eclipse, but asked Adjutant General John Harris to be on standby in case they are needed with situations like traffic congestion.

“He has worked it out so some training exercises are occurring this weekend, and they certainly will be prepared and will monitor the situation, and if we need the guard to come in, we certainly will be able to do that,” DeWine said.

Additionally, the governor said he would activate the Emergency Operations Center beginning on Sunday and running through Tuesday as part of the state’s precautionary measures for the eclipse. Ohio Emergency Management Agency Director Sima Merick said the teams there would monitor highway traffic cameras, as well as weather radar to keep an eye on both of the state’s main concerns for the event.

“Right after the eclipse is probably not the best time to get in your car and try to get somewhere,” DeWine said. “It will settle out over a long period of time. Some people have made plans to spend the night, some people have booked into the state park … some people are doing the same thing in hotels.”

Marking the first time since 1806, Ohio will be in the direct path of the solar eclipse on April 8. Forecasters predict the phenomenon will last for just up to four minutes and 28 seconds, and could have some impact on weather as well. The eclipse could last twice as long as the previous eclipse in 2017.

The 124-mile-wide path of totality, where the sun will be 100% blocked by the moon, will span from the southwest to the northeast portion of the state. Everyone outside this coverage area will have a different view of the occurrence, but all of Ohio falls in at least a 95% coverage zone.

Local organizations are urging residents to fill up their tanks before the weekend, due to the possibility of gas shortages. Kara Hitchens, public affairs manager for AAA, said stations running out of gas is a possibility, and whether gas stations will have extra gas stocked up for the eclipse will vary on a station-by-station basis.

Drivers could also face additional congestion on eclipse day to construction. ODOT also created an interactive map to display an hour-by-hour look at four potential traffic scenarios based on the number of visitors the state sees: 150,000, 350,000, 575,000 and 625,000.

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