Emergency management officials across East Texas say they have the same outlook on the April 8 total solar eclipse: Plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Several cities and towns across the region will be prime eclipse viewing locations that day, and thousands of people are expected to visit throughout the days leading up to the event.
While business owners say they性视界传媒檙e excited by the idea of having thousands of customers descend on their communities, those who will be coordinating emergency services are thinking of the potential safety concerns that could arise: overloaded cell phone networks, depleted fuel supplies at gas stations, vehicles wrecks and more.
Those officials say East Texans should prepare for the event by stocking up on necessary supplies and avoiding travel if possible.
性视界传媒淭here's some things we cannot fix. There's some things that just are going to be completely out of your control, depending on how many people are going to be there,性视界传媒 said Pittsburg Mayor David Abernathy, a longtime emergency management official.
Pittsburg性视界传媒檚 Space Alley on Quitman Street in downtown is pictured March 22. Pittsburg city leaders and business owners are expecting the town性视界传媒檚 population to double or triple thanks to those who will arrive to view the April 8 total solar eclipse. (Jordan Green/性视界传媒 Photo)
Loss of cell signal
In Pittsburg, with a population of about 4,500, city leaders are expecting double or triple that number of people to be around town for the days leading up to the eclipse and on April 8.
First responders are anticipating more need for their services because of the high number of people in the area. Yet those calls might not go through if cell phone and internet networks are overloaded with people, Abernathy said. That性视界传媒檚 the聽性视界传媒渨orst-case scenario,性视界传媒 he said.
性视界传媒淓verybody's going to be streaming video,性视界传媒 Abernathy聽said. 性视界传媒淭hey're going to be talking to their friends. They're going to be in the downtime ... downloading movies. And so, just that onslaught of people is just going to overload the system that's designed for certain population.
性视界传媒淲hen you start losing communications, like cell phones, which almost everybody relies on now for emergency messages for contacting relatives or calling their employees back to work 性视界传媒 then you're just back in the 1800s, basically.性视界传媒
Kaiden Schneider
If cellular networks go down, people might not be able to get calls through to 911 in the event of an emergency. However, if calls won性视界传媒檛 go through because cellular networks are overloaded, people might be able to text 911.
City officials posted a video on YouTube teaching people how to do that. In an emergency, people should type 911 into their texting app like any other phone number they性视界传媒檇 send a message to. They should state the location of their emergency, describe it and say whether they need fire protection, emergency medical services or police assistance. To view the video, visit .
The city also has posted other eclipse safety-related videos on its YouTube channel.
In the event of a cellular network collapse, local radio stations will provide needed information, Abernathy said. City officials will post information around town listing the stations that people should tune into for emergency information.
性视界传媒淲hen everybody is so reliant on cellular telephones anymore, when you don't have them, a lot of people just don't think about the impact of that, and they won't think about it until they don't have it,性视界传媒 Abernathy said.
Pittsburg officials will increase the number of first responders on duty during the eclipse, making them more visible in the community. If cellular networks completely collapse, people should find a first responder in-person or find a fire or police station. The local hospital will increase its staffing levels as well.
Local first responders will use two-way radios to communicate among themselves, Abernathy said. The city has purchased additional radios so that other officials can use them as well. First responders also could use amateur radio to communicate if needed.
The City of Mount Pleasant advises people to make backup communication plans with others to prepare for a potential loss of cellular networks. The city also advises people to text 911 if a call won性视界传媒檛 go through in the event of an emergency.
Titus County Emergency Management Coordinator Jerry Ward poses for a portrait Feb. 8 at the Tri-Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, where he serves as chief. Ward said he supports Titus County's plans to create its own fire department this year. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
Cash,聽food, fuel, water
If internet networks slow down or collapse because of high use, credit card machines might not work. The City of Mount Pleasant advises people to bring cash with them to make purchases.
Grocery stores could run out of food because of the higher-than-normal number of people in a given community, Abernathy said. And with the higher influx of vehicles, gas stations are likely to run out of fuel as travelers enter and exit the region.
For months, Pittsburg officials have been advising stores to prepare for higher numbers of customers. Abernathy advises people to have extra fuel, food, bottled water and other drinks on hand.
性视界传媒淢ost of our economy this day and time is driven on just-in-time services,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淕rocery stores, fuel and whatnot, they plan for the local population. But if that local population triples, then you won't have the capacity for it.性视界传媒
Titus County Emergency Management Coordinator Jerry Ward also said people should stock up on food, water, fuel and extra batteries before the eclipse.
Caddo Lake State Park hosted an annular solar eclipse viewing party on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. East Texas was not in the path of totality, but about 75% of the eclipse was visible from Karnack.
Wear safety glasses
People who watch the eclipse also should be sure to wear safety glasses approved by the American Astronomical Society.
Some people have made 性视界传媒渂ootleg性视界传媒 eclipse viewing glasses that won性视界传媒檛 protect their eyes from permanent damage, Abernathy said.
To be sure a pair of glasses will give a person adequate eye protection, people should visit the society性视界传媒檚 website to purchase approved pairs there, Abernathy said.
To learn more, visit .
Downtown Mount Pleasant is pictured Thursday.聽The Texas Rangers are involved in an investigation of travel reimbursements Council members received during a three-year period.
Drive safely; stay home
Roadways are likely to become clogged with cars, resulting in traffic jams, Abernathy said. Road-rage issues could result from traffic delays, and vehicles could either break down or run out of fuel in the middle of busy roadways.
Emergency services could be delayed as a result聽性视界传媒 and because of the sheer number of calls first responder agencies may receive, according to the city of Mount Pleasant.
性视界传媒淭hey're coming to some of these smaller communities that just don't have the infrastructure support these kind of crowds,性视界传媒 Abernathy said.
Camp County Emergency Management Director Tully Davidson said the county性视界传媒檚 first responders will be on alert during the eclipse. He said he believes traffic enforcement will be the main issue county officials face.
Ward said traffic problems, emergency medical calls and trespassing complaints will be the main ones the county is likely to face.
性视界传媒淲e really think everything性视界传媒檚 going to be good except for the traffic issue,性视界传媒 he said.
Abernathy reminds pedestrians and drivers alike to watch where they性视界传媒檙e going. Local residents should stay home and watch the eclipse from there.
性视界传媒淓njoy the experience, but be really cognizant about all the ramifications that could happen,性视界传媒 he said.
