Travis County issues disaster declaration ahead of total solar eclipse

Julianna Russ
·3 min read
12

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County said it would take emergency measures ahead of the total solar eclipse set to take place in exactly one month.

The declaration was in anticipation of large crowds, increased traffic and strains on first responders, hospitals and roads related to the eclipse. Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued the declaration.

RELATED: These school districts have canceled classes for the April 8 total solar eclipse

“It’s super exciting to see this once-in-a-lifetime event,” Brown said. “What makes it different is that it is a natural phenomenon, and we can’t control the weather around it. So there’s a lot of variables that we just can’t control for.”

Brown said the population of Travis County could nearly double in the days surrounding the eclipse, with up to one million people expected to descend on Central Texas.

Much of Central Texas, including Travis County, is expected to have some of the best views of the celestial event, which occurs April 8. The eclipse will be the last of its kind in the area for the next 20 years.

The path of totality will pass over a 122-mile wide stretch from Eagle Pass to Texarkana, covering nearly 13 million Texans.

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“This disaster declaration will allow our first responders and public safety officials to better manage traffic and crowds as we anticipate the population to potentially double in size, and we want to ensure everyone can enjoy the total solar eclipse in Travis County,” Brown said.

By enacting an emergency declaration, Travis County can take actions necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors and position itself for aid and assistance as needed.

“Under the disaster declaration, private property owners in the unincorporated areas of Travis County will be required to notify the County if they plan to host a gathering with more than 50 people to watch the eclipse,” the county said in a statement.

Residents were also encouraged to:

  • Plan ahead for traffic congestion the weekend before and all day Monday, April 8, 2024, especially after the eclipse when people leave at the same time

  • Reschedule non-urgent appointments for a different day

  • Get gas and groceries and run errands before the eclipse day

  • Watch the eclipse at home or near your home

  • If traveling to watch the eclipse, plan ahead and download What3Words, which can help first responders locate 911 callers in an emergency

Watch the full announcement using the video player below.

KXAN’s sister station KWKT reported a Texas county declared a state of emergency ahead of the total solar eclipse. Bell County issued the disaster declaration Feb. 21 following the decision to take “extraordinary measures” to keep residents and visitors safe.

Several Central Texas school districts have already canceled classes due to the eclipse.

“If we were to have something happen, the response could be delayed because those resources are deployed farther away from us… And so we said, ‘You know what, it’s better to be safe,'” Tim Savoy with Hays Consolidated Independent School District said. On Thursday, Hays CISD announced school will be canceled on April 8 for the event.

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