LOCAL

Austin, Travis County are preparing for solar eclipse. Five tips to help viewing experience

Bianca Moreno-Paz
Austin American-Statesman

A range of city of Austin and Travis County representatives gathered Tuesday to provide tips and viewing locations for those planning to view the eclipse on Monday.

At a news conference at Guerrero Colorado River Park in Southeast Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson affirmed the city is not currently anticipating any problems. Planning for the day has been at the forefront for the homeland security task force of the Capital Area Council of Governments, which has spent two years cautiously planning for the influx of people into the region. The task force has overseen eclipse crowd planning in 10 Texas counties, including Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said at Tuesday's solar eclipse preparedness news conference that the city is not anticipating any serious problems during Monday's eclipse, although officials did warn of potentially heavy traffic and possible heavy cellphone service demand.

Here are five tips the city shared Tuesday:

Think traffic's bad now? It will likely be worse on eclipse day.

Visitor impact and foot traffic is expected to be on a similar scale as the fall Formula One races and the South by Southwest festivals. Many visitors will fly in through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and drive to the Hill Country. Extensive gridlock is predicted to reach from Austin into the Hill Country. Airport spokesperson Sam Haynes said airport car rental agencies locally are currently 100% booked.

Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Brad Wheelis warned people not to try to drive wearing eclipse glasses.

Downtown Austin hotel occupancy is averaging 77% from April 6 to 8. Hotel rates are 48% higher than normal during the same weekend last year, according to Ken Snipes, director of the city's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The eclipse happens to fall after a jam-packed weekend of local events, including the CMT Music Awards at Moody Center, the Statesman Capitol 10,000 and an Austin FC match at the Q2 stadium.

Text, don't call 911, and have some cash on hand

Some cellphone carriers might become overloaded during the eclipse event, impacting cellular service. Snipes encouraged cellphone users to text instead of calling their loved ones. Texts can also be sent to 911 in emergency situations.

He urged families to formulate a plan in case contact is lost and to establish a safe meeting area in advance. Disruptions to cellphone service could also affect businesses that rely on cell signals to process transactions, so business owners are encouraged to accept cash and have change on hand. The same goes for those seeking to make purchases on eclipse day, said Eric Carter, Travis County chief emergency management coordinator.

Watch the eclipse from the comfort of home

The path of totality will encompass most of Austin, with totality expected to last one to two minutes within the city. The farther west, the longer totality will last. The Hill Country will see closer to four minutes of darkness. For most Travis County residents, traveling will not be necessary to get a good glimpse of the eclipse, Carter said. Those who can are encouraged to walk, bike or use public transportation to reach viewing locations.

The eclipse will begin at noon, reaching totality at 1:37 p.m. and concluding around 3 p.m., meteorologist Paul Yura said.

Don't drive with your eclipse glasses on, seriously

Eclipse viewers driving prior to and during the eclipse were urged to not stop their vehicles on roadways or highway shoulders to view the eclipse, which could endanger other drivers and pedestrians. Parking on highway shoulders could spark wildfires and crush blooming wildfires, Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Brad Wheelis said.

Wheelis urged drivers to drive with their headlights on and not to wear eclipse glasses while driving.

Austin public libraries will host free informational events and watch parties

On eclipse day, viewing parties will be held at the Menchaca, Cepeda, North Village, Old Quarry, Pleasant Hill, Twin Oaks, Willie Mae Current and Windsor branches of Austin public libraries, as well as at the Central Library. While libraries will begin distributing glasses on Thursday until they're gone, they will have limited reserves on Monday, said Baylor Johnson, an Austin Public Library information manager.

The Austin Central Library at 710 W. Cesar Chavez St. will host a series of talks with NASA scientists this Friday. There will be live viewings of the sun through a special solar telescope.