Solar Eclipse
Name:
Solar Eclipse
Date:
April 8, 2024
Event Description:
EXPECTATIONS DURING THE ECLIPSE FOR THE CAMERON and MILAM COUNTY AREA
For Our Local Businesses
With quite a few visitors planning trips to and through Milam County during these events, you may experience:
For Residents and Visitors
Solar Eclipse Survival Bag:
Ensure needed supplies are available in advance of the eclipse event. Consider extending hours of operation to meet customer needs and have a back-up plan if staff is delayed due to traffic.
Encourage employees to think ahead about traffic, resources (cash, gas), and childcare needs. Make sure your staff can get to work and give them reminders to plan ahead.
If your business uses cellular or wireless service for transactions, prepare for a back-up plan. State officials anticipate a high demand for cellular service during the impact period. Transactions may be slower at this time.
Be prepared for more cash transactions just in case automated services are down. Consider having extra tills set up to accommodate these additional cash transactions. You may have larger than normal deposits over the weekend, so check ahead with your bank for hours of operation.
Due to possible cellular service disruptions, visitors may have urgent requests to use your landline business phone. Decide how you will handle these requests, and make sure employees know what to do. If a 911 emergency arises, you may need to use the landline.
Evaluate your delivery schedule on the day of the eclipse. This may be significantly delayed due to the overwhelming number of vehicles on the road.
Have a plan to address visitors who park or camp in unauthorized locations. Expect customers whose primary interest is in the use of business restroom facilities. Public restrooms may be in short supply.
Weather conditions may dictate visitor behavior. If conditions are cloudy, “day-trippers” may move to a location with better viewing conditions. Determine in advance how you will handle cancellations. Monitor the weather conditions at least 1 week to 10 days prior to the eclipse.
| FOR EVERYONE | FOR BUSINESSES |
| Expect a lot of visitors to Cameron and the surrounding areas | Prepare for both local and outside visitors |
| Expect higher traffic volumes | Stock up on supplies at least the week prior |
| Purchase food, gas, and prescription refills before the bulk of eclipse enthusiasts arrive | Think about marketing to visitors - get creative |
- Use signage to indicate you open.
- Avoid price gouging.
- Offer water bottles and snacks.
- Provide pleasant interaction and great customer service.
- Use volunteers or hire extra temp staff to help direct customers.
- Deescalate tense situations; remember that law enforcement may be delayed.
- Exhibit patience as we all navigate this influx of visitors.
- Avoid over consumption of alcohol by guests.
- Consider offering sober rides, shuttles, or other transportation.
- Use certified eclipse glasses for viewing - never look directly at the eclipse without appropriate eye protection.
- Travel delays are likely on the day of the solar eclipse, so gas up early. There are no charging stations in Milam County. Texas has more than 3,400 EV charging stations.
- Travel with a generous supply of bottled water and snacks, and if possible, carpool with others.
- Get battery-pack chargers for cell phones and other electronic devices for emergency purposes.
- [TXDOT Drive Texas] https://drivetexas.org/
- [NASA] https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/
- [Space] https://www.space.com/41552-total-solar-eclipse-2024-guide.html
- [Great American Eclipse] https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/texas-2024-eclipse
- [TX Solar Eclipse Fact Sheet] https://www.budatx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11970/Texas-Solar-Eclipses-Fact-Sheetdocx
- [TX Parks & Wildlife Dept.] https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/links/eclipse-viewing
With quite a few visitors planning trips to and through Milam County during these events, you may experience:
- Parking issues - lack of parking, having to park and walk to your destination (Please Park only in designated areas and not on private property or in areas that cause safety issues)
- Traffic delays and road closures
- Longer wait times for restaurants (consider cooking at "home" instead or bring a small cooler with ready-to-eat food)
- More congestion (pedestrian and vehicles)
- Delayed emergency/911 response
- Cell service interruptions/lack of service
- Higher than normal stress levels and/or heated tempers
- Credit card machines not working (bring cash)
For Residents and Visitors
Solar Eclipse Survival Bag:
- Protective eyewear
- Drinking water
- Snacks, more substantial food (bring a small cooler)
- Medications for 2-3 days
- Mobile phone and charger
- Rain gear (you never know)
- Hard copy maps and a compass (going old school!)
- First-aid kit
- Sunburn medication.
- Important contact numbers written down (consider putting in a plastic sleeve)
- Cash (in case ATMS and credit card machines are down)
- Medical bracelets/IDs
- Insurance cards
- Trash bags: pack it in, pack it out - Don't Mess with Texas and Leave Yer Butts in the Car
- Appropriate clothing (dress for the weather)
- Sunscreen and a hat or visor
- Insect repellant
- Good walking shoes
- A smile
- Sign up for emergency alerts at warncentraltexas.org
- Kids - bring activities for them (e.g., games, puzzles, toys) and plenty of healthy snacks
- Pets - bring leashes and harnesses, medications, food, water, poop bags, toys
- Fuel up/charge your vehicles ahead of time.
- Extra water for overheated cars
- Fix a flat kit.
- Safety flair
- Spare tire(s)
- Air tags (for personal items)
- Pre-map your route, as well as coffee shops, convenience/grocery
stores, pharmacies, hospitals/medi-clinics and have hard copies
(in case cell service is slow or down) - Tell friends and family your travel plans; share your location.
- If your hotel or other accommodation has a landline phone number, write it down.
- Know your limits; drink responsibly and never drive while impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- If playing music, keep the volume reasonable.
- Be respectful of people, space, property, vehicles (Employ the Golden Rule); remember you are visiting communities where people live and work.
Ensure needed supplies are available in advance of the eclipse event. Consider extending hours of operation to meet customer needs and have a back-up plan if staff is delayed due to traffic.
Encourage employees to think ahead about traffic, resources (cash, gas), and childcare needs. Make sure your staff can get to work and give them reminders to plan ahead.
If your business uses cellular or wireless service for transactions, prepare for a back-up plan. State officials anticipate a high demand for cellular service during the impact period. Transactions may be slower at this time.
Be prepared for more cash transactions just in case automated services are down. Consider having extra tills set up to accommodate these additional cash transactions. You may have larger than normal deposits over the weekend, so check ahead with your bank for hours of operation.
Due to possible cellular service disruptions, visitors may have urgent requests to use your landline business phone. Decide how you will handle these requests, and make sure employees know what to do. If a 911 emergency arises, you may need to use the landline.
Evaluate your delivery schedule on the day of the eclipse. This may be significantly delayed due to the overwhelming number of vehicles on the road.
Have a plan to address visitors who park or camp in unauthorized locations. Expect customers whose primary interest is in the use of business restroom facilities. Public restrooms may be in short supply.
Weather conditions may dictate visitor behavior. If conditions are cloudy, “day-trippers” may move to a location with better viewing conditions. Determine in advance how you will handle cancellations. Monitor the weather conditions at least 1 week to 10 days prior to the eclipse.
