Americans are bracing for an ‘apocalyptic’ meltdown due to solar eclipse

In April 8 this year, the Moon’s shadow will completely darken the skies of part of North America for about five minutes, turning day into night.

A few centuries ago, this event was a source of fear among the population, attributing supernatural powers to it. Today we know that an eclipse has nothing to do with it, but rather it is something that can be explained in a simple and rational way.

The 2024 solar eclipse will be the most watched in history. Find out where in the world it will be visible

But in cities that are lucky enough to be in range 185 kilometers wide where night will fall in broad daylight, from Mexico to Canada and crossing the U.Sthere is fear of a crisis related to this astronomical event that was warned by local authorities.

Tourist “apocalypse” in the making

Lorain County, Ohio, Emergency Management authorities have issued a series of recommendations for residents and visitors, including stock up on food, water and fuel before this eventas if there were an imminent apocalypse.

It turns out that, in this eclipse, the Sun will be at or near solar maximum, and this increases the chances that solar bulges, those glaring streamers that break off its surface, will be more visible throughout the corona than on previous occasions. To the NASA warned that “a coronal mass ejection (a large eruption of solar material) is likely to be observed during the eclipse”.

A large influx of tourists Those who hope to enjoy those few wonderful minutes that the celestial event will provide us, are preparing areas along the path of totality, where the lunar shadow will be absolute.

In this sense, a increase in traffic and waiting times in public areas such as hospitals, difficulties in accessing food and fuel, among other supplies. The large number of people can also cause the collapse of cellular communication systems due to increased mobile phone activity in the area, overloading the system.

Preparing for problems

All cities along the eclipse path, large and small, will be overwhelmed with tourists during the eclipse.

Some, like Indianapolis, Indiana (USA), are preparing for a traffic stop or at least a slowdown. The Indiana Department of Transportation is limiting any construction in the area along the path of totality. The State Police will also have all officers working that day.

It’s not just the problem of congestion. Increased delays can encourage aggressive driving by impatient people, which can cause a increased risk of accidents.

In Oklahoma, a network of portable cameras is being installed to monitor traffic congestion in that day. The Texas Department of Transportation plans to have winches on standby to deal with any incidents. There are also concerns that drivers could start fires by parking their hot vehicles on dry grass.

Exaggerated?

The fears may seem exaggerated, but they are not without foundation and precedent.

In some parts of Texas, they expect their populations to multiply temporarily. Kerrvillea city of 25 thousand inhabitants, estimates receiving almost half a million visitors. There were already precedents in the previous eclipse.

In 2017, around five million people traveled toward eclipse totality, and nearly all eclipse watchers arrived at their destination by car, either driving directly or taking a flight to a nearby airport and driving the rest of the way.

Many cities are not prepared in terms of infrastructure to receive such a large number of tourists. Many of the roads have two lanes, which can severely delay vehicle movement.

Although the astronomical spectacle promises to be memorable, the logistical and security challenges for locations located in the path of totality should not make us forget the importance of enjoying this event safely, reminding spectators of the need to protect your eyes with specialized glasses for observing eclipses.