Central Texas communities brace for the Great American Eclipse
By BRANDY CRUZ | Photos by BRANDY CRUZ and courtesy photos
As the U.S. prepares for the Great American Eclipse, Central Texas is poised for the best view of the rare celestial event.
The next total eclipse in North America will not happen until 2044, so seeing it now, with the expansive skies and varied landscapes of Central Texas may be your best bet of witnessing it in your lifetime. According to climate researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, Texas is the best place to view the eclipse in the United States due to the estimated lack of clouds covering the sky. To be absolute certain, they recommend checking weather forecasts beginning April 6 for the most accurate weather data.
The astronomical occurrence will begin at 12:18 p.m. April 8, with totality at 1:36 p.m. Depending on where you are in Bell County, totality will last between 3 minutes, 43 seconds to 4 minutes, 22 seconds. After totality, the partial eclipse will last until 2:58 p.m. Choosing just one viewing location may be your biggest struggle, but we have compiled a list of other things to consider as the eclipse nears.
EVENTS
Visitors will not be coming to the area just for the day, but are expected to make a weekend trip. Many will be looking for things to do in Central Texas. Out of state visitors will also be expecting that famous Texas hospitality.
Temple: Although the city has no official events planned, discovertemple.com/eclipse2024 includes a lot of helpful information, including a countdown timer. The website also includes a calendar of other events during the eclipse.
Belton: Paul Romer, public information officer for the city, said Market Days will be open the weekend of the eclipse. A NASA ambassador will be conducting an outdoor presentation and an indoor presentation at the Bell County Museum. Check beltontxsolarbration.my.canva.site for more information.
Schoepf’s Barbecue will host its third annual Bulls & BBQ event at the Bell County Equine/Livestock Complex, which will include bull riding, mutton busting and other popular rodeo events. That evening, Schoepf’s will feature a concert by Shane Smith & the Saints as part of its 2024 Texas Music Series. To find out more information, including costs, visit schoepfsbbq.com.
Killeen: The city has been planning for the Great American Eclipse for years and has a lot of events planned. Visit killeentexas.gov/632/Killeen-Eclipse-2024.
Central Texas College’s Mayborn Science Theater, which has the only planetarium within a 60-mile radius, will definitely be a hotspot, with events planned throughout the weekend. NASA personnel, meteorologist Bill Hecke and astronomer Warren Hart will be giving groups insight into the science behind the phenomena.
Salado: Barrow Brewing Company is teaming up with Dark Green Light Productions to present Sounds Over Salado Solar Sessions, which includes aerialist dancers, live music, special food and commemorative merchandise. Tables should be reserved in advance. For more information, visit barrowbrewing.com/events.
For more events in the village, visit visitsaladotexas.com.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotels and other rental properties have been sold out in anticipation for the eclipse, but some cities have opened areas for camping.
Belton: Heritage Park will be open for camping starting at 10 a.m. April 5. The 155-acre park includes a playground, dog park, picnic tables, grills and a fishing dock. Campers may also launch kayaks into the Leon River.
Salado: The village has two RV parks for those looking for a campground. Contact Salado Sky at saladoskyrvpark.com or 254-410-3091.
Contact Salado RV Park at saladorvpark.com or 254-390-9500.
Other locations: Rover Pass, an RV Park and campground reservation website, has compiled a list of places to camp along the path of totality at roverpass.com/p/texas-solar-eclipse.
SAFETY
Safety is always important to remember, especially when large crowds are expected. Bell County Emergency Management has been meeting with its partners to consider any potential issues that may arise leading up to the April 8 eclipse.
“We understand what we could potentially be facing with the influx of people coming into the area for the event, along with the days leading up to the event,” Bell County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Reinhard said. “We have a plan in place that will allow us to continue to provide services to our citizens and to those who choose to come to Bell County.”
Eye Safety
Amid the excitement of the day, experts remind everyone of the paramount importance of protecting one’s eyesight while viewing the eclipse.
From start to finish, the eclipse will last approximately two and a half hours, with a totality of more than four minutes. Although that seems like the perfect time to safely look at the sun, it could still damage your vision if you do not have the proper eye protection.
“You could have permanent damage, cause those cells do not regenerate,” Dr. Calvin Eshbaugh, an ophthalmologist with Baylor Scott & White Heath, explained about the damage caused by looking directly at the sun without the proper eye protection. “It is not worth the risk.”
“When watching a partial or annular solar eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (eclipse glasses) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times,” Reinhard said. “Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses. Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun.”
Jennifer Henager, program manager with Emergency Management of Temple, said eclipse glasses should meet International Organization for Standardization 12312-2. To ensure you have proper glasses in time for the eclipse, order eye protection as soon as possible to avoid any retailer supply issues or shipping delays.
Traffic
Excitement leading up to the solar eclipse is immense, with officials expecting an influx of anywhere from 50% to 100% more people in Central Texas. Reinhard said people should expect large crowds, as well as the risks that come with population growth.
“With large gatherings, excessive traffic, and/or traffic congestion, people can sometimes become more vulnerable to accidents happening,” he said. “We ask those who plan on taking part in events during the eclipse to please be patient with one another, be mindful of your surroundings in a effort to reduce the number of accidents that could happen, and understand that with the population growth we are expecting, due to the same large gatherings and traffic congestion, it could take first responders longer to get to calls for service than normal. Rest assured that we are coming, but expect delays.”
Officials are expecting shortages of food, gas and other essentials. Peter Perez, director of Emergency Management for the city of Killeen, recommends people purchase necessities a week prior to the celestial event.
“One of the things we’re asking it to make sure you’re planning ahead,” Perez said. “If you can do your grocery shopping a week before and just get a few extra items to last you a couple of extra days – a few extra freezer or non-perishable food items to last until that Tuesday or Wednesday, then you won’t have to go and deal with that headache of all those people at the stores.”
Perez also recommended people avoid any roads that are around large events that might be happening that day.
“If you’re not going to go and partake in that event, try to avoid those roads, so you’re not stuck in inconvenient traffic,” he said.
Cellular Service
“Due to the increased number of people arriving in Central Texas, we expect potential disruptions in cellular service during eclipse weekend,” Henager said. “In the event of an emergency with no available cell service, remember that you can utilize the Text-to-911 feature for assistance.”
When utilizing the Text-to-911 feature, enter 911 without spaces or hyphens. Text the reason for your emergency, as well as the full address of the emergency. Use complete words and sentences, not abbreviations, and do not send photos, videos, GIFs or emojis to the operator.
During a virtual eclipse briefing hosted by Temple Emergency Management, Henager recommended people use walkie-talkies to stay in contact with family members, just in case cellular service is disrupted.
Reinhard advised people to limit the strain on cell towers by texting instead of calling. He also said to be mindful of streaming video, sending photos or using the internet on a cellular device, which can put further strain the towers.
“Infrastructure of all kinds has its limits in terms of capacity. Cellular infrastructure is no different,” Reinhard said. “Once a cell tower has met its capacity, people in that area could see a degradation in cell service until the use of that tower comes back down below its capacity.”
“Remember the phrase, ‘Text if you can, call if you must,’” Perez added.
Enjoy Yourself
NASA has instructions for creating a pinhole projector to view the eclipse safely. Building one with your children would be a great way to introduce science and astronomy in a fun and memorable way. Visit svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14391 for the instructions.
Perez suggested local businesses use the opportunity for exposure and recommended businesses embrace shipping or pick-up orders to make it as easy as possible for visitors.
“If you’re a restaurant, if you’re a little boutique, people are gonna want to come and see what you have for sale,” Perez said. “The easier you can make it to those visiting our area to place an order with your business, the more likely you are to get their business.”
“Embrace this rare phenomenon and prioritize safety by taking necessary precautions,” Henager said. “Enjoy the experience responsibly and visit bellcountyeclipse.com for more information.”
