A Texas judge is urging pet owners to stock up on supplies for their animals ahead of next month's total solar eclipse.
On April 8, the moon will be positioned to block the entire disk of the sun in several U.S. states, plunging millions of people into darkness in the early afternoon. The path of totality will begin in Mexico and extend to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, and across the North Atlantic.
The spectacle is expected to draw crowds from across the country as people head to areas in total orbit to witness the eclipse. Texas officials have expressed concern that public safety resources are being stretched, putting a “tremendous strain” on local hospitals and road congestion.
Concerned, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelley issued a disaster declaration on March 4, saying the influx of tourists would “deplete food and fuel supplies and strain city and county infrastructure, possibly exceeding capacity.” There is a possibility.”
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Kelly urged pet owners to come forward and purchase items needed to care for their animals one week before the eclipse.
“If possible, we recommend that you stay home and not go out on the day of the event,” Kelly said, according to the disaster declaration webpage. “Also, a week before the event, make sure you have gas in your car, enough groceries, prescriptions filled, and stocked food for the animals in your care. We recommend that you do so during the eclipse weekend.”
Kelly said in his disaster declaration that the county of 53,000 people could easily triple in population thanks to visitors for the eclipse. This declaration will remain in effect until terminated by a county judge at some point after the eclipse.
Kerr County offices will be closed during the eclipse for employee safety. Many schools in the area will also be closed for the day out of concern for the safety of their students. For example, Hays County schools will be closed. The school district had previously planned to open for the event and also purchased viewing glasses for all students so they could view the eclipse safely..
Hays School District spokesman Tim Savoy previously said the glasses will be sent home with students along with “fun activities and tasks on the day of the eclipse.” newsweek In a statement.
Issuing a disaster declaration allows the county to request state assistance and resources from the Texas Emergency Management Agency if needed. newsweek TDEM was contacted for comment via email.
Although only certain states will be in the path of totality, all states in the continental United States will be able to see some form of the eclipse, with the exception of only a few areas of Hawaii and Alaska.
The last total solar eclipse in the United States was on August 21, 2017. The next total solar eclipse will not occur in North America until 2044.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, finding common ground and finding connections.
