Traffic is one of the biggest concerns for the eclipse

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - People in Ohio are gearing up for the state’s first total solar eclipse in over 200 years.

As many as half a million people are expected to come to Northwest Ohio for the once-in-a-lifetime event.

“Our local communities have been working to prepare for this influx of visitors, but there’s no way around the fact that there will be incredibly heavy traffic and very large crowds,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in a press conference.

DeWine, along with officials from ODOT, EMA, DNR, OSHP, and National Guard, say preparedness is key, especially for travel times.

“Don’t expect right after the eclipse is over with to be able to get in the car and drive with the same efficiency as you were on a normal day,” DeWine said.

Ohio officials have been meeting with officials in states that experienced the total eclipse in 2017 to understand how to deal with this major event.

DeWine said members of the National Guard are on standby the weekend before the eclipse, but he has not called them to duty.

Other than proper eye safety, traffic, especially traffic after the eclipse, was the highest concern.

“There were people saying it took us three hours to go, and took us nine hours to get home,” said Sima Merick, the executive director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

The Ohio Department of Transportation will use 1,100 cameras to track traffic in real time. The agency created a website to predict traffic times before, during, and after the eclipse.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will post troopers to assist motorists traveling for the eclipse. Colonel Chuck Jones reminded drivers to stay on the road to allow emergency vehicles to go through.

“We are urging motorists to refrain from stopping on the side of the roadways and exit ramps to view the eclipse. Not only is it illegal, but highly dangerous,” Jones said.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is welcoming eclipse viewers to visit state parks.

“We’re treating every park like it’s a major fireworks event,” said Mary Mertz, the director of the Ohio DNR.

Mertz said parks will have special devices to allow blind or partially sighted individuals to be able to track the eclipse through sound.

Whether you are visiting a state park, or watching the eclipse in your neighborhood, Caleigh Huring, the director of marketing and communications for Destination Toledo, said preparedness is key.

“Make sure wherever you’re going to be watching the eclipse, that you’re getting where you want to be and staying where you are for a while, that will help with not adding to congestion on the roads,” Huring said.

Huring and state officials recommended packing essentials such as snacks, water, cash, cellphone chargers, and paper maps in case of cellphone service disruption.

No matter what your eclipse plan is, Huring said this will be a fun and exciting event.

“From the tourism perspective, the idea that all these people will be coming to Toledo and experiencing the city, even it’s for something that we didn’t plan or have no control over, like a scientific event, we’re really excited,” Huring said.

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