Bracing for chaos, Texas counties issue emergency declarations ahead of solar eclipse

Editor’s note: This story is part of The Dallas Morning News’ coverage of the 2024 total solar eclipse. For more, visit dallasnews.com/eclipse.
Some Texas towns are bracing for chaos ahead of a rare solar eclipse that will cut across the state next month, potentially drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists to the region.
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Officials in Texas’ Hill Country — considered one of the prime viewing spots in the U.S. — are warning about traffic gridlock, food and fuel shortages, and strains on hospitals, first responders and the cellular network.
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As a precaution, Bell and Kerr counties issued emergency declarations that will help officials prepare for and respond to the eclipse and coordinate with the state if needed. A third, San Saba County, says it also plans to declare a state of emergency.
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Hill Country officials have urged residents to stay home and avoid driving if possible, refill prescriptions, purchase groceries and fuel cars days before the eclipse, which will carve a path of totality across Texas on April 8.
Some counties expect their populations to double, or even triple, as people flock to Texas to glimpse the phenomenon.
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That influx could “cause extreme traffic congestion on our roadways, place an enormous strain on our first responders and hospital systems, drain our food and fuel supplies and strain our city and county infrastructure to, quite possibly, over capacity,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly cautioned in a statement this week.
The Central Texas county is home to the town of Kerrville, selected by NASA as one of three U.S. cities to livestream the eclipse. Kerrville’s “Dark in the Park” festival is expected to draw thousands of eclipse watchers to the city about 100 miles west of Austin.
NASA will also livestream the event from Indianapolis and Cleveland.
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In a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Kelly said the number of people expected to flood Kerr County, with a typical population of 53,000, could overwhelm resources.
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“This event is expected to be of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capability of the local jurisdiction to manage,” Kelly wrote.
As the moon passes between the sun and Earth, the eclipse will plunge some cities into total darkness for more than four minutes. Millions of Americans will travel to witness the event, and many will come to Texas, according to the Great American Eclipse.
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Airbnb reported a 1,000% increase in searches for properties in the path of totality, such as Dallas and Austin. The eclipse has also spurred a sharp hike in nightly hotel rates in Texas.
Tens of thousands are expected to head to Hillsboro — rebranded to “Eclipseboro” — and the city has been preparing for them for the past year. Other Texas cities, including Fredericksburg and Dripping Springs, are also preparing for tourists.
Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Hartzel told The Dallas Morning News that eclipse traffic could be as if several high-profile football games all end at once.
Property owners in Bell County are required to register if they plan to host parties with more than 50 people. Owners must provide the county a site layout and ensure guests have adequate bathrooms, waste disposal and wastewater solutions.
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Registration will provide public safety officials and first responders with information when roads and highways are clogged, the county said. Bell County, with a population of roughly 400,000, is home to cities such as Killeen, Temple and Belton.
Due to the eclipse, “extraordinary measures must be taken to protect the health, safety and welfare of Bell County residents and visitors,” the county’s emergency declaration reads.