BELTON, Texas (FOX 44/KWKT) — A judge in one Texas county has ordered emergency measures in an effort to handle the hordes of total solar eclipse viewers who will descend on the state in April.
Bell County Judge David Blackburn issued a local disaster declaration Wednesday after officials decided they had to take “extraordinary measures” to keep residents and visitors safe.
Bell County and much of Central Texas are predicted to have some of the best views of the celestial event April 8.
Blackburn said officials are expecting Bell County’s population of 400,000 to double, if not triple, in the days leading up to the eclipse. He fears that could put a serious strain on the county’s infrastructure.
The emergency declaration allows the Bell County Office of Emergency Management to communicate more easily with the State Department of Emergency Management, if necessary. It also means property owners in unincorporated areas of Bell County must register any plans to host watch parties, dry camping or other large scale events.
Bell County offices will be closed April 8. Blackburn is encouraging the county’s more than 1,200 employees to stay home because of the increase in traffic expected. He also suggested people take care of all their errands, such as grocery shopping and buying gas, a few days before the eclipse.
Killeen, Temple, and Belton schools will be closed April 8 because of the large crowds expected in the area.
Local governments and first responders in other states in the path are also bracing for the event.
Officials in Ohio’s Summit and Lorain counties are asking residents to stay home and are warning that traffic could come to a standstill, making it difficult for first responders to get to emergencies.
Emergency Management officials told NewsNation affiliate WJW that residents should stock up on several days worth of food, fuel and water, as the influx of visitors could also affect grocery stores, gas stations, and cellphone services.