Officials stress preparedness ahead of eclipse
Be Prepared. It’s not just a scouting motto. It serves as wise advice for Boerne residents Oct. 12-15, when thousands of visitors flood the city and all parts of the Hill Country, to get a glimpse of the Annular Solar Eclipse.
City officials have been meeting for the better part of two years to prepare for the pair of eclipses – the Annular Eclipse Oct. 14, and a Total Eclipse on April 8, 2024 – and the issues that will arise from having anywhere from 20,000 to as many as 100,000 people jam the city, all with their eyes to the skies.
Chris Shadrock, city of Boerne communications director, said the city is treating the Oct. 14 Annular Eclipse as “a dry run of sorts” for the April 8, 2024 total eclipse, which will draw significantly larger crowds to the area.
While visitors might be lucky to find a hotel room or campground spot still open for this coming weekend, hotels have been sold out for months for the April event, he said.
The saving grace of the Annular Eclipse -- when the moon lines up perfectly between the Earth and the sun, but doesn’t entirely eclipse the sun, instead creating a “ring of fire” that will glow ferociously around the dark moon – is its vastness. It can be seen from anywhere you happen to be.
“People can just step out in their front yards, on a sidewalk or in a driveway, wherever you will be,” Shadrock said. “Residents and tourists won’t have to travel to a specific venue to see it.”
It’s imperative that residents pick up a pair of eclipse glasses. Solar eclipse glasses are made of a black polymer or silvery mylar that blocks 100% of infrared and ultraviolet light. They only transmit about one millionth of the sun’s visible light. Black polymer glasses make the sun look orange, and mylar glasses make it appear bluish-white.
“People can just step out in their front yards, on a sidewalk or in a driveway, wherever you will be.”
– Chris Shadrock, City of Boerne communications director Dozens of local shops, restaurants and businesses are selling or giving away glasses. Trying to view the eclipse without glasses can and will permanently damage your eyesight.
The eclipse will begin at about 10:20 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m. The actual moment the moon will cross directly in front of the sun, creating the “ring of fire,’ will be from 11:5111:55 a.m.
From its many meetings, city and county officials created a 13-page guide for Boerne residents and visitors to prepare for both eclipses. One topic stressed throughout: traffic.
Traffic will be heavy. Downtown Boerne will already be jammed, as the site of the first-ever Hill Country Mile RodRun, a car show expected to draw some 400 vehicles to Main Plaza and will have Main Street shut down from Blanco Road to River Road. The RodRun picks up where the 36th annual Keys To The Hills RodRun left off.
More advice from the experts who have gathered for months for the Oct. 14 Annual Eclipse:
• Parking will be an issue for those wishing to attend any of the eclipse watch parties or events planned during the day. Come prepared to park a good distance away and walk to your eventual destination.
• Anticipate cellular service interruption. Service may become impacted or have limited access during the days with the substantive increase in visitors.
• Expect longer than usual lines for local services such as restaurants, gas stations, grocery, and retail stores may be longer than usual. Officials advise residents to do what you can ahead of time before the anticipated impact days and allow for extra time to get where you need to go.
• Expect increased activity on roadways, neighborhoods, public facilities, restaurants, and parks. Hotels, vacation rental dwellings, campgrounds, and group facilities likely will be at peak capacity.
Shadrock said the city has prepped its law enforcement, emergency responders, waste management, parks and recreation and all aspects of city service for the onslaught, as best it can.
“The main thing is educating the masses on protection. They really don’t understand the magnitude, the impact this is going to have on the community,” he said. “We want people to be able to enjoy the event, and to do so safely.”
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