Safety planning part of eclipse preparations

On Monday, April 8, 2024, residents and visitors across Ohio will experience a rare solar eclipse - and Huron County will be right in the middle of its path. Officials are predicting 100,000 people or more could be visiting Huron County to watch the eclipse and be a part of the excitement. Locally, Huron County Emergency Management Agency director Art Mead is working hard with first responders to make sure everyone is ready when the big event comes. Mead said he is already meeting weekly with first responders from all over the county. "I'm having three meetings a week talking to first responders," Mead said, adding he's meeting weekly with state, local, and regional organizations. He said with 100,000 people or more expecting to converge on Huron County, calls for assistance to first responders might triple or even quadruple. "It's going to be hard to rely on mutual aid if everybody is as busy as you are," Mead said. "We know it's not going to be an easy process." He also said the weather will be a huge variable. "It could be 70 degrees and sunny or it could be snowing," Mead said. "It's April 8 — who knows?" If it's cloudy in one part of the county, tens of thousands of people could drive to the other part of the county, he said. But he thinks first responders in Huron County will be prepared. "We're preparing for the worst and hoping for the best," Mead said. One thing that Mead said people can do is let his office know if they are having some sort of event or gathering that will draw more than 100 people. "We're asking for people to let us know so we can plan our resources more accordingly," he said. Still, it's going to be difficult to have every detail and possible wrinkle ironed out in advance. "We're all watching each others' backs. Some of us are going to be busier than others," Mead said. "It's hard to be proactive because there's so many variables in that mix." Huron County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Dave Ditz echoed some of Mead's comments. "April 8 could be beautiful or we could have a snowstorm," Ditz said. "We just don't know." But he said the sheriff's office will have additional officers on the road. Ditz said there are basic issues that everyone will have to deal with. "Where are people going to go to the bathroom?" he asked. "How are people going to get rid of their trash?" Not everyone in Huron County thinks the eclipse crowds are going to tax them. New London Police Chief Joe Hicks said he is attending meetings on the topic, but "I don't see it being a big issue in New London." Despite that, he might increase patrol staffing over eclipse weekend. "We're basically just following the advice and guidelines of the EMA," Hicks said. Anyone with questions can email them to Mead at director@huroncountyema.com.