AKRON, Ohio — Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to the region to witness a total solar eclipse on April 8.

What You Need To Know

  • In just about one week, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to the region to witness a total solar eclipse on April 8

  • Leaders in Summit County, including Public Health Commissioner Donna Skoda, are asking residents to stay home when scores of visitors come to town for the event

  • She said the county’s biggest concern is making sure people, especially children, don’t look directly at the sun while the moon passes over it

  • The other major concern is traffic, and they want to keep as many people off the road as possible

The path of totality stretches from Maine down to Texas, running through a portion of Ohio that includes Summit County. 

While local leaders there are excited about what’s coming, there are a lot of safety concerns that accompany such a large event. 

Leaders in Summit County, including Public Health Commissioner Donna Skoda, are asking residents to stay home when scores of visitors come to town for the total solar eclipse. 

“We’re waiting on the weather predictions, we’re waiting to see what, in fact, we think will happen that day, getting a little closer to the event,” Skoda said. “But honestly, that’s good advice.”

A total solar eclipse hasn’t occurred in Ohio since 1806 and won’t happen again until 2099. 

Different estimates suggest anywhere between 125,000 and over 550,000 visitors will come to the state for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view it here. 

“Most of the schools in Summit County have closed,” Skoda said. “I think there’s one left that’s on early dismissal. You’re going to want to be with your kids for this event.”

She said the county’s biggest concern is making sure people, especially children, don’t look directly at the sun while the moon passes over it.

It’s imperative that folks acquire certified-safe glasses for viewing the eclipse to avoid damage to their eyes and to make sure kids follow that protocol. 

“The hospitals have done some preparation, emergency vehicles,” she said. “You know, all of the first responders are looking at staging vehicles. We just don’t know, but we want folks to remain safe. The best way to stay safe is to view it from your home.”

The other major concern is traffic. 

A few years ago, a partial solar eclipse drew crowds smaller than what’s expected next month, and Skoda said even then, the congestion on roads was terrible.    

“If it’s anything like what happened in 2017, you’re going to see folks who literally stop on the freeway and get out of their car to look at it,” she said. 

With so many people in the area, cellular data could also be slow or totally inaccessible on that day.

Be prepared not to have access to service and even consider a paper map if you’re not familiar with the area.

Skoda said 90% of Summit County’s hotels are completely booked for April 8th, and parking is going to be at a premium.

For folks coming to town to visit, she anticipates traffic could be worse on the way out. 

So, she said, those who are visiting should stick around an extra day or two to enjoy the area if they can.

“We’re really trying to encourage folks to come early, stay late, and don’t try to leave all at once, which is what usually happens,” she said.

Skoda also said they anticipate a lot of people will run out of gas, so they’re also encouraging everyone, visitors or residents, to make sure they have enough fuel on the day when they’re arriving in town. 

She said all these warnings aren’t meant to scare people; they just want everyone to be as prepared as possible, so the community can enjoy the phenomenon safely.