GREENFIELD — With the April 8 solar eclipse less than 75 days away, dozens of city and county officials gathered Tuesday to discuss ways to best accommodate the estimated 30,000 people who will be making their way into Hancock County.
Roughly 70 representatives from all over the county met for the planning session at the Thrive Center in Greenfield to collaborate on the big event.
“We want everyone to be prepared for the influx of visitors that will be coming in from all over the world,” said Miriam Rolles, who is helping manage the countywide preparation effort as an administrator for the county.
Tuesday’s meeting was led by Joe Fitzgerald, deputy director for Hancock County Homeland Security.
He talked about the steps that would be necessary to prepare for the number of people who would be descending upon the county — one of 15 counties to be within the coveted “path of totality” viewing area — which will be plunged into total daytime darkness for three to four minutes.
“There will be a lot of people flying into Mt. Comfort airport (in Greenfield) just to see this,” said Fitzgerald, noting that the upcoming eclipse lasts twice as long and can be seen in a path that’s over twice as wide as the last solar eclipse in 2017 — when Hancock County witnessed a partial eclipse but was roughly 250 miles outside the path of totality, which ran through Kentucky.
Fitzgerald said employers in the county — especially large employers with a lot of employees, like factories — should consider how the influx of traffic and the mid-day darkness will impact their work shifts.
Local police and fire officials and heads of local municipalities attended Tuesday’s meeting in an effort to make the county’s preparation efforts as unified as possible.
Fitzgerald shared feedback from other cities and towns which witnessed an onslaught of visitors from the last eclipse in 2017.
He shared one of his favorite quotes he had seen in regards to how the onset of eclipse traffic impacts a community: “This is like (hosting) the Super Bowl without the stadium.”
Fitzgerald shared statistics that state that one acre can accommodate 3,200 people, which means that roughly 10 acres of viewing area would be required to handle the estimated 30,000 potential visitors to Hancock County — based on numbers other counties of the same size experienced within the path of totality in 2017.
Hancock County Tourism has created a website — EclipseInHancock.org — to manage and publicize the various eclipse-watching events taking place throughout the county that day.
Hosting a public viewing party requires a permit, said Rolles, so that local emergency services can keep tabs on where large groups of people will be gathered.
A growing list of watch parties have been registered in recent weeks, including Total Eclipse of the Park events at Greenfield’s city parks, which can be viewed at the parks department’s new website — ParksInGreenfield.com.
“Greenfield Parks has embraced this once in a lifetime event by opening up our four biggest parks as viewing sites,” said parks assistant director Julie Patterson.
“Since we are in the path of totality we expect lots of visitors outside the county to join us. The main hub of activity will be Depot Street Park, where there will be food trucks, an expert science panel, games and activities from noon to 6 p.m.,” she said.
Riley, Brandywine and Beckenholdt parks will also host viewing events.
No matter where they view the eclipse, Fitzgerald is encouraging everyone who visits to “arrive early, stay put and leave late” to minimize traffic congestion the day of the event.
Hancock County tourism director Brigette Cook Jones said the going rate for local hotel rooms is around $300. “Of course as this gets closer to time, this rate will go up,” she said, adding that many guests are also reserving spots at local campgrounds.
Fitzgerald said it’s essential that anyone providing lodging, watch parties and other services that day to register at Hancock County Tourism’s website by clicking on the “partners” tab.
The tourism department is working in tandem with city and county officials to assure a safe and successful day for the big event.
Fitzgerald emphasized that preparation is key, sharing a quote from a community organizer who successfully prepared for the 2017 eclipse: “In the end, we were grossly overprepared. I will never apologize for being grossly overprepared.”
He also shared this bit of advice from past planners: “If you wait to arrive, you’ll be late to the drive and miss the celestial lights. If you hurry to leave, you’ll surely feel peeved. Stick around and see all our sights.”
From a county planning perspective, Fitzgerald said organizers need to be sure to register watch parties and large gatherings at the county’s designated website, and to make preparations to provide enough restrooms, drinking water and first aid supplies to accommodate the crowds.
Fitzgerald encouraged those in attendance at Tuesday’s planning session not to underestimate the impact the eclipse will have on Hancock County.
“It’s going to be a big thing with hopefully a lot of people coming in and spending a lot of money and getting back out safely,” said Fitzgerald, who said the county’s position near the epicenter of the path of totality puts it in a prime position to see a huge influx of guests.
He also shared suggestions on what programming to include on the big day, from fun activities to the spiritual side of celestial events.
Fitzgerald also encouraged event organizers to only sell or distribute items that have been approved by the American Astronomical Society, especially when it comes to eclipse glasses that can safely protect eyes against the sun’s harmful rays, even during a total eclipse. More information can be found at Eclipse.AAS.org.
Jones said anyone marketing to the eclipse in any way is welcome to use a specially designed Hancock County eclipse eclipse logo, which can be found on the county’s eclipse website at EclipseInHancock.org.
The county government’s eclipse team safety plan can be viewed at the county’s website, HancockIN.gov.
For more information on planning or registering eclipse-related events, contact Jones at [email protected] or 317-477-8687, Rolles at [email protected] or 317-477-1111, ext. 2028.
Those planning to host an event are encouraged to attend one of three informational sessions held Feb. 8 at the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts — 122 W. Main St. in Greenfield — at 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. (RSVP at [email protected].)
