When the moon blocks out the sun during the solar eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21, a narrow band of Oregon will lie in the area of totality where viewers can experience a complete eclipse. And with Oregon as the first state to experience totality, an influx of visitors – perhaps as many as one million – are expected to flock to the Beaver state and travel to a location within that totality.

Madras and other areas in eastern Oregon will offer prime locations for eclipse
viewers, and traffic on Hwy. 26 around the event is expected to dramatically
increase. Kimberly Dinwiddie, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
Community Affairs, likened it to traffic usually reserved for winter break, when
it can take up to three hours to travel between Government Camp and Sandy.

“In the days surrounding the eclipse, we can expect the same type of
congestion and that’s what we’re preparing for,” Dinwiddie said, adding that
ODOT is expecting much higher traffic in four areas within the path of totality:
the Oregon coast, Salem, Madras and other areas in eastern Oregon.

Dinwiddie’s message to the mountain community, echoed by a multitude of
other government agencies, is clear: be prepared. Don’t travel if you don’t
have to (consider biking or walking as alternatives), stock up on essentials
(groceries, prescriptions, gas, etc.), let visitors know ahead of time what to
expect and make sure that emergency services can get through. And if you do
travel, take food and water, plan for bathroom breaks and leave ample time
to arrive at your destination.

“Bottom line: arrive early, stay put and leave late,” Dinwiddie said, adding
that ODOT will make sure there are no lane closures on Hwy. 26 for its

RealTime sign project around the eclipse. “We want everybody to have a good
time.”

Hoodland Fire District (HFD) Chief John Ingrao noted that the district will be
“heavily staffed” around the time of the eclipse, adding that the timing of the
event provides increased danger during fire season. He noted that the district
is working with other agencies, including the Clackamas County Emergency
Management, to prepare for responding to emergencies.

“The planets are aligned for this to be a very bad thing,” Ingrao said, adding
that the annual Hood to Coast marathon will occur only days after the eclipse.
“The philosophy is to hit things with as many pieces of equipment as possible
to keep it small.”

Ingrao added that mountain residents can lessen their risk by reducing their
exposure, including making sure vehicles are in good working order before
finding yourself in gridlock, which could start as early as Thursday, Aug. 17
and stretch into Wednesday, Aug. 23.

“The common wisdom is to be prepared and take care of yourself,” he said,
noting that the Mount Hood area could experience increased traffic on forest
roads as viewers seek out alternative locations at higher elevations to get
good views of the eclipse. “There could be a significant amount of people
causing delays.”

Jim Todd, Director of Space Science Education at the Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry (OMSI), noted that some part of the world experiences
the totality of an eclipse once every year or two, it’s just a matter of being at
the right place at the right time.

The last totality that occurred in Oregon was in February, 1979, and before
that was in 1918.

Todd stressed that weather will make a huge difference for viewers, and if
people are lucky, they will be able to see a myriad of heavenly bodies,
including bright stars, bright planets and even a shooting star as part of the
Perseid Meteor Shower.

“You’re looking at the moon’s shadow over you,” Todd said. “Everybody will
remember for the rest of their lives. It’s a very exciting event, it’s an
incredible event.

Todd added that the state will not experience another totality for 154 years
(while there will be approximately 25 partial eclipses able to be seen in
Oregon in the next 50 years and an annular eclipse, when the moon appears
smaller as it blocks out the sun, in 2023).

“It’s rare in terms of location, as far as Oregon goes,” Todd said. “It’s really
been a fever pitch. Everywhere we go, we talk about it every day. It’s in our
backyard.”

“It’s beyond anybody’s imagination the large volume of people coming,” he
added.

The next total eclipse will occur on July 2, 2019, with the area of totality
passing through Argentina.

Todd stressed that everyone viewing the eclipse should wear proper eyewear
to protect their eyes, such as ISO certified solar viewing glasses. Sunglasses,
he warned, will not work and eye damage to the optic nerves in the back of
the eye can occur in as few as ten seconds, even if no pain is felt
“You cannot fix it, it’s permanent,” Todd said.

Todd also suggested keeping pets inside, adding that viewers, “don’t want to
waste your two minutes chasing your pet down.” And he noted that from what
he’s heard, anybody seeking out a spot in the area of totality can “expect
company.”

“Without question, every corner of land seems to be taken,” he said.
For more information on the eclipse, visit https://www.space.com/33797-
total-solar-eclipse-2017-guide.html