Up to 15,000 more people could be in Trumbull for the eclipse. Here’s how to stay safe
Ohio residents are making plans to hit the road on April 8 to watch the solar eclipse, which will be visible from at least 55 counties.
It’s been seven years since the last eclipse was visible to the U.S., and local counties are getting ready for an influx of travel either to or through the Mahoning Valley.
Trumbull County preparing for traffic on April 8
John Hickey, director of the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency, is prioritizing motorists and spectators safety during the solar eclipse on April 8.
“We are preparing for an approximate 10,000-15,000 people traveling from other areas to stay here in Trumbull County to view the eclipse, people who will come camp at the campground, go to some of the functions that the county is promoting,” Hickey said.
Several schools dismissed classes for the day to view the solar eclipse, which is scheduled to start around 3 p.m. on April 8.
There’s an even greater number of people expected to be traveling through Trumbull County on I-80 into cities like Cleveland, according to Hickey.
“The concern is with traffic,” Hickey said. “Will emergency responders be able to get to where they need to go?”
Trumbull County EMA expects some impacts on cell phone coverage and service in the area with so many people coming through.
“Everybody depends on communicating. If we have an additional 80,000 people coming through here or whatever, that’s going to drag [cell coverage] down. If you’ve gone to the Canfield Fair before, what happens? Cell service is down because there’s so many people, so it’d be the same thing,” Hickey said.
The Trumbull County EMA is working with local organizations and businesses ahead of April 8 to answer any questions.
“The key is working together and we’re communicating,” he said. “We’ve been meeting with everybody: ODOT county engineer, the local Tourist Bureau, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, superintendents, anybody that you could think of that could be affected...We’re doing our due diligence to keep that line of communication open.”
Advice for motorists
Hickey recommends packing your car with necessities like:
- cell phone chargers
- first aid kit
- water bottle
- food
“Anything that you may need to get you through if you get backed up in a traffic jam or whatever the case may be, and you can’t get off the highway,” Hickey said.
Drivers are asked not to watch the eclipse from any roadways.
This increases the chance of a traffic crash due to the diminished light.
Fill your tank with enough gasoline to get back home in case of traffic jams.
Some states where the last solar eclipse occurred had spectators run out of gasoline in 2017, which blocked roadways and congested already heavy traffic, Hickey said.
In Cleveland, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency said totality will start somewhere between 3:13 and 3:17 p.m.
During the full eclipse, the moon briefly blocks the sun’s light by passing between the Earth and the sun, according to Astronomy Magazine.
The next total solar eclipse viewable in North America isn’t happening until Aug. 23, 2044.
Visit the Trumbull County EMA website for more.
