Sunday, May 5, 2024
Ahead of the total solar eclipse on April 8, the City of Gatesville held its second town hall on Thursday, Jan. 18 to share plans for the rare event.
Gatesville Police Chief Brad Hunt kicked off the meeting with a presentation about the plans to keep residents and visitors safe as Gatesville prepares to receive thousands of visitors from across the globe. With Gatesville being one of the cities in the path of totality, the Central Texas region will become a prime viewing spot.
After meeting with cities that experienced a total solar eclipse in 2017, Hunt explains that many smaller communities in the path of totality experienced up to ten times their population in the week leading up to the eclipse. Traffic not only became heavier than normal, but also caused lines of traffic that tripled travel times. The majority of traffic jams occurred following the end of the eclipse when people began to exit the cities.
“We know there are lessons that they learned that we are trying to then apply to having less of an issue even though there is no eliminating it,” Hunt said.
Hunt shared recommendations for citizens when it comes to preparing for severe traffic. This includes making sure vehicles have a full tank of gas, carrying a tire repair kit and emergency supplies in the car, or staying off the road the evening of April 8.
“If you do need travel, try to treat it like it’s a cold weather or blizzard situation where you have a full tank of gas and where you have water, food, and ways to take care of your car with you because you could get stuck in traffic for a long period of time,” Hunt said.
The biggest traffic concerns include congestion on U.S. Highway 84 and State Highway 36, two major highways utilized by emergency vehicles and that lead to larger cities like Waco and Temple. Hunt said the police department plans to work with the Texas Department of Transportation and Coryell County to develop a traffic plan that will allow ambulances access to the hospital despite stop-and-go traffic.
Hunt said the Gatesville Police Department is doubling their patrol presence the week of the eclipse as well as working with area partners and nearby cities to plan for any potential emergencies, such as Coryell County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Cavazos, Texas Department of Public Safety, and others.
“We know that these partnerships are important,” Hunt said. “If they need help, we need to be able to help them, and if we need help, we need them to agree to come help us.”
With most hotels, campsites, and parks in the area already fully booked for the weekend of the eclipse, Hunt also shared guidelines for those who are considering renting out an RV or spaces in their home or property to visitors. He said residents can find resources for how to avoid rental scams and safely host visitors via a rental platform through the Better Business Bureau website or on the Gatesville Police Department’s Facebook page.
Eclipse Coordinator Cheri Shepherd said Faunt Le Roy Park will also open additional camping spots around the walking trail for eclipse visitors.
Hunt recommends people sign up for code red alerts on the City of Gatesville website, which will notify citizens of any emergency situation, traffic, or internet issues.
Shepherd provided additional information about where to view the eclipse and plans for the “Block Out the Sun” festival that will take place on the square the Saturday and Sunday before the eclipse.
The festival will include activities such as an art show, petting zoo, goat roping, food trucks, a cornhole and pickleball tournament, musical entertainment, and more. A NASA ambassador will also provide a presentation called Syzygy on Saturday, April 6, at 6 p.m. in the City Auditorium, which is free but requires ticket reservations.
“We don’t know how many people will be at the event because we’ve never had it before, but we think we will attract a lot of people,” Shepherd said. “We also think people passing through (highway) 84 when they see an eclipse-related event are likely to stop to check out what’s going on.”
Along with encouraging businesses and organizations to sign up as vendors for the festival, Shepherd also said they are looking for volunteers to help out with the festival and run information booths.
“We want to make it a fun event for everyone who attends, but we also want to make it a profitable event as well,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd also shared Gatesville eclipse t-shirts that can be purchased at the Gatesville Fitness Center as well as special eclipse glasses that can be purchased at the fitness center, city hall, and various local businesses.
Designated viewing spaces for the eclipse in Gatesville will include the McKamie Stadium, the Gatesville Sports Complex and Gatesville Civic Center, and various churches and businesses that are planning eclipse events.
“This is an opportunity for our community, not only just for our residents to have this incredible experience of having this right in our front yard but for our visitors, and for our businesses to get to promote themselves,” Shepherd said.
The city will plan one more public town hall ahead of the eclipse in April.
Residents and visitors can learn more about Gatesville’s eclipse plans, lodging, parking, and how to get involved in the festival at gatesvilletxeclipse.com
