Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – It’s impossible to know how many people will come to southern Indiana for the April 8 total solar eclipse, but counties in the path of totality are preparing for an onslaught of visitors.
One eclipse cartographer is predicting 500,000 people will come to Indiana to view the solar spectacle. In 2017, an estimated 300,000 traveled to Kentucky to view a total eclipse. This is the first total solar eclipse viewable in the US since 2017 and is the last until August 2044, and that’s expected to drive up numbers even more.
The eclipse will arc across the southern half of Indiana from southwest to northeast.
Cities, towns and state parks along the path are preparing fun events and activities around the eclipse. Leaders also want residents in their communities to be prepared for the sudden influx of visitors, gridlock on highways, lines at gas stations and even the possibility that gas stations could run out of gas that day.
Valerie Luchauer, Lawrence County Emergency Management director, has been planning for the event for months.
“With Monroe County having a longer totality, they are expecting 300,000 people and many of them will pass through Lawrence County on their way through and back,” said Luchauer. “Spring Mill State Park could have as many as 11,000 people. I’m expecting there will be traffic backed up on (Ind.) 37 from the Mitchell McDonald’s to Johnny Junxions.”
To help businesses and organizations prepare, the Bedford Chamber is having a Lunch and Learn Feb. 7 at StoneGate Arts & Education Center in downtown Bedford.
Luchauer and Tonya Chastain, executive director of the Lawrence County Tourism Commission, will provide resources and information on how to prepare for the influx of visitors. The event is free to any business or organization and sponsored by ServPro.
Event planners have scheduled activities to keep people in place to avoid the mass exodus, but Luchauer said people who have traveled a great distance will likely depart immediately after.
Because the eclipse of the sun will begin around 1:50 p.m. that day in this area and the total eclipse will take place around 3:05 p.m., area schools have canceled classes to avoid having buses in transit. The eclipse will end around 4:20 p.m.
“The big thing for me is people preparing for the traffic situation,” Luchauer said. “Know the back roads to get around. And we want people to know they need NASA-approved glasses to view the eclipse.”
Luchauer has notified businesses that have afternoon shift changes of potential problems. Some businesses are considering closing at noon that day so employees aren’t caught in traffic.
Luchauer is also recommending that residents avoid running non-essential errands that day, if possible.
Register for Lunch & Learn
The solar eclipse readiness lunch meeting is free to all Chamber members and non-members. Registration is required to attend. Registration is due Feb. 2.
For more information on this or other Chamber events, call the Bedford
Chamber at (812) 275-4493 or email [email protected].