POCATELLO — Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to travel to East Idaho later this summer for a rare solar eclipse.
It’s anticipated that this unprecedented influx of people will put massive pressure on the region’s infrastructure, with heavy traffic gridlock and disruptions in cellphone communications expected for the Great American Solar Eclipse on Aug. 21.
However, local officials said they are preparing for any problems that might arise during the astronomical event.
Kerry Hammon, public information officer for the city of Idaho Falls, said an instant management team was created last December to ensure there is maximum police and emergency unit coverage throughout the area during the eclipse.
The team, which consists of law enforcement, public health and emergency personnel from eight East Idaho counties, is coordinating with other state agencies, such as the Idaho Transportation Department, to prepare for any emergency situations that could occur on Aug. 21.
Portions of East Idaho, particularly the Rexburg area, are being considered as some of the top locations in the United States to view the upcoming eclipse, which is expected to provide a major economic boost to the region. Already, most of the hotel rooms and campsites in East Idaho have been reserved for the event.
But planning for so many people has not been easy considering that the eclipse might attract more people than East Idaho has ever seen before, with as many as 500,000 visitors pouring into the region.
“This has never happened before,” Hammon said. “We know how to plan for the Fourth of July, when Idaho Falls doubles in size. But we’ve never been through anything like this eclipse.”
Officials all across the region said to expect heavy traffic gridlock, particularly on Interstate 15 once the eclipse ends and the visitors begin to head home.
Law enforcement officials are working with the Idaho Transportation Department to ensure that all of the lanes on I-15 will be open to traffic during the eclipse. The Idaho State Police also said it will be out in full force, with troopers being forbidden from taking vacation time on that day.
“If traffic is heavy, we will have somebody in the area to respond if an incident arises,” said Lt. Fritz Zweigart of the Idaho State Police.
Another concern for local officials is that the large influx of people visiting the area could cause a massive disruption of cellphone communications.
According to the Associated Press, local emergency managers are developing plans to deal with potential outages, while AT&T representatives are working on building more infrastructure, including adding a mobile cell tower.
The Associated Press also said that emergency responders have radios that do not use cellphone coverage. However, they are preparing to use ham radios and pagers as backups.
Officials also said that both area residents and eclipse tourists need to prepare themselves for possible traffic jams and the obstruction of cellphone communications.
For one, anybody who will be out on the roads on Aug. 21 should carry plenty of water, food and emergency supplies in their vehicle in case they get stuck in a long traffic jam. These could last multiple hours on some East Idaho roads and highways.
Hammon said one astronomer who consulted with emergency management officials in Idaho Falls spent 10 hours in a traffic jam immediately after viewing a solar eclipse in Bangkok, Thailand.
Motorists should also ensure that they have a full tank of gas in their vehicles on the day of the eclipse. Because of traffic congestion, travelers should also give themselves plenty of extra time to get to their destinations.
“What we want to get across is that people in prime viewing areas should not expect to be home in time for dinner later that evening,” said Timothy Marsano, public information officer with the Idaho State Police. “The roads are expected to be extremely congested, which poses a challenge to all of the law enforcement agencies.”
Residents who will be staying home should also stock up on food and water and make sure they have plenty of medication in case traffic gridlock prevents them from driving to a grocery store or a pharmacy.
To prepare for cellphone outages, Hammon said residents should try to stay close to a landline phone in case of emergencies. She also said residents and visitors should not bog down dispatch lines with non-emergency calls.
“911 is going to have its hands full dealing with emergency calls,” Hammon said.
A public meeting regarding public safety during the eclipse will be held on July 26 at 7 p.m. at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium at 501 S. Holmes Ave. in Idaho Falls.
