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A Texas official is recommending that residents in one county stock up on food and gas in advance of the total solar eclipse set to occur in a few weeks.
On April 8, the moon will be positioned in such a way that the entire disc of the sun will be blocked out in several U.S. states, plunging millions of people into darkness during the early afternoon. The path of totality will start in Mexico and extend across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before heading out over the North Atlantic.
The spectacle is expected to draw crowds from around the nation as people flock to areas in the path of totality to witness the eclipse. In Texas, several counties have already issued disaster declarations in advance of the event, and other counties are taking steps to prepare.
Mike Jones, Hays County's director of the Office of Emergency Services, suggested that residents stock up on essentials in the days leading up to the event, according to Austin TV station KXAN.
Jones told Newsweek: "I recommended visiting the stores and gas stations in advance to simply reduce traffic flow the day of the event and manage individuals' expectations that we will have a few more visitors in our county than normal. I always encourage [people] to keep your fuel tanks filled [half] tank or better as a standard practice."
Read more: Cut down on costs at the gas pump
A Hays County webpage dedicated to the eclipse said the county is anticipating "many thousands of visitors" to arrive for the event.
"Millions of people will travel into the roughly 100-mile-wide paths across the continent where they can see maximum coverage of the Sun by the Moon," the webpage said.
Travis County, Kendall County and Bell County officials have issued disaster declarations in advance of the eclipse.
"Effective Friday, March 8, 2024, Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued a Declaration of Local Disaster in anticipation of extremely large crowds, increased traffic, and enormous strains on first responders, hospitals, and roads on the days leading up to, on, and after the day of the upcoming total solar eclipse," Travis County's disaster declaration said.
"The large crowd may create a public safety hazard and impede or delay first responders answering calls for service," the declaration added.
Counties that issue a disaster declaration are enabled to "take actions necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents and visitors and position itself for aid and assistance if needed," according to Travis County's declaration.
Although only a handful of states will be in the path of totality, every state in the contiguous U.S. will be able to see some form of the eclipse, with only small parts of Hawaii and Alaska missing out.
The last time the U.S. experienced a total solar eclipse was on August 21, 2017. The next one won't occur in North America until 2044.
About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more