The CAPCOG Homeland Security Division hosted state, regional and local public safety officials to discuss emergency preparedness plans and safety measures they are taking to support communities during the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. More than 60 people from various agencies participated in the discussion which is helping develop regional planning efforts for the event.
“The total solar eclipse will have a significant impact on the region’s western communities, but every community in the region will experience an aspect of people attending the spectacle,” said Martin Ritchey, CAPCOG Homeland Security director. “It is important to prepare together and know what each other are doing to face the challenges the eclipse may bring.” It is anticipated that up to 720,000 people will visit Texas as the eclipse path travels across the state from Eagle Pass to Texarkana through Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Llano, Travis and Willaimson counties.
During the summit, state and regional agencies such as Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Public Safety State-Wide Interoperability Coordinator discussed how the state is planning to keep traffic moving along the smaller highways and how agencies are already testing and coordinating radio communications that may see a significant increase in usages as the visitor population booms. State and regional officials also addressed DPS trooper presence, emergency medical services ambulance usage, and area hospitals plans. Local organizations also shared information about their most recent preparedness plans, while CAPCOG urged communities to start logging their information into WebEOC, so assets and information is easier to share the day of the event.
CAPCOG will host a third Eclipse Planning Summit in March — date to be determined — virtually. The first summit was held in October and topic specific regional planning meetings have taken place between the first and second summits; such meetings will continue until April 8.
