Millions of visitors are expected to invade Ohio two months from now for front-seat views of the April 8 total solar eclipse.
The extra people could easily cause traffic jams, overload cellphone towers, disrupt emergency personnel, and even buy up important supplies like food, medicine and gasoline.
That’s why Ohioans who live and work anywhere near the eclipse’s path should use the next few weeks to prepare for the stampede.
The Mansfield area alone could see as many as 250,000 guests the weekend of the eclipse, according to Rebecca Owens, director of the Richland County Emergency Management Agency.
April 8 is a Monday, and many reservations are already booked starting the Friday before. Crowds may linger until Tuesday.
“Be prepared,” Owens said. “Think of it as a bad weather weekend. What would you do if you knew that we were getting six inches of snow that weekend?”
Here are five ways you can be prepared before the April 8 total solar eclipse: