State and local officials are gearing up for an influx of 500,000 visitors to Kentucky during the weekend of the August 21 total solar eclipse.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told the General Assembly’s Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection they have been meeting for 12 months, planning for a variety of contingencies.
“Near Hopkinsville is the ‘ground zero’ for not the national eclipse, but the global eclipse,” said Dossett.
Hopkinsville is expecting visitors from 36 states and 16 countries, he said. He explained why Christian County and western Kentucky is getting all the attention.
“The path of the eclipse through western Kentucky runs about 98.6 miles, and is 70 miles wide. The length of totality in the Hopkinsville area is two minutes and 40.2 seconds, the most anywhere.”
Dossett said they asked all 21-counties in the path of totality to let them know the areas where they will need help. “Most of them had concerns with traffic, health issues, bottled water, things of those nature.”
“The main event will be when people leave the Hopkinsville area,” he said. They will also have aircraft up to monitor major surface routes, both at the local level and interstates.
They are also preparing for one of the worst-care scenarios, Dorsett said.
“We have looked at emergency bus transportation, in terms of if there is any type of an event that would require evacuation.”
Other agencies and contingencies involved in the planning include public health departments, Hazmat, search and rescue, even reuniting lost children with their parents.
Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Hopkinsville, is excited about the event. “It’s a cosmic, celestial lottery we have won. Any one place is lucky to have a total solar eclipse once every 400 years.”
Dossett said there are all kind of rumors on what happens during a total eclipse.
“Water will flow backwards, plants will turn upside-down, animals will act out. Most of all you hear is not true.” He also said there should be no communications interruptions or effects on airplane flights.”
When asked about any possible threat, given the large number of people expected to assemble, Dossett said he is in daily contact with the Kentucky and federal offices of Homeland Security.
“They are aware, as is our National Guard Intelligence branch, of the gathering and what that brings. But I believe we are prepared to monitor those issues and no threats have been identified at this point.”
Dossett also had two words of advice for residents of “Eclipseville,” as Hopkinsville has become calling itself, with the huge crowd: “Be patient. This will be a very popular event and an opportunity for Christian County to shine.”
