Worried the total solar eclipse your universe has planned for April 8, 2024, will send Arkansas tailspinning into chaos, destruction and pandemonium? Fret not, for the professional worrywarts at the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management are on the case.
“We want everyone to enjoy the excitement of the day, but also be prepared for some delays and inconveniences,” Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar said in a press release today. “We’re asking for patience and understanding as we do our best to clear hurdles that will undoubtedly arise.”
The department put together this cool dashboard of eclipse events, and the Arkansas Department of Transportation has developed an eclipse-specific webpage for traffic-related dispatches to accompany real-time traffic report idrivearkansas.
“Several scenarios, such as severe weather, transportation and traffic management issues, and potential fuel shortages, may impact Arkansans during the solar eclipse,” the release said. The department has been holding operational calls for a year in anticipation of eclipse mayhem.
Travel on the main interstates may be congested, officials warn, and “the large number of visitors in the state may disrupt cellular service,” the National Weather Service advised. “Travelers should bring a portable weather station to stay informed and alerted to any potential severe weather that may occur before, during, or after the Solar Eclipse.”
The department included this B-roll video along with its press release, which isn’t particularly informative but does give a glimpse into the scale of the planning process:
