How is Austin preparing for the April total eclipse?

CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) — Following lessons learned during October’s annular solar eclipse, Austin city leaders outlined Monday several preparations to be taken in advance of the total solar eclipse on April 8 to keep people safe while also marveling at the natural phenomenon.

Public safety efforts

The City of Austin’s Homeland Security Emergency Management (HSEM) operates its Ready Central Texas webpage with specific information flagged for the April eclipse. Along with the online resource guide, HSEM is poised to host a regional press conference in early April to highlight public safety efforts related to the event, per Monday’s memo.

Officials added it’ll be all hands on deck for local and regional partners to ensure public safety. Coordination plans are underway between HSEM, the Travis County Office of Emergency Management (TCOEM), the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC), the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

Those consolidated efforts specifically hone in on road safety initiatives and to streamline transportation and medical facilities ahead of the eclipse, the release added.

City parks access

While city parks will be open and available to the public, city leaders are encouraging residents to view the eclipse near their homes, work or school given the anticipated influx of visitors in Austin for the phenomenon. Park rules will be enforced during the eclipse, including the prohibition of camping in all municipal parks save for the Emma Long Metropolitan Park.

Hotel bookings

Hotel occupancy volumes are expected to match traditional influxes during the spring festival season, with 80% to 85% of available hotel rooms expected to be occupied, the memo added.

Data provided to Visit Austin by Expedia Group found a 42% uptick in future stay hotel bookings for April 5-8, with Austin ranked No. 2 out of all destinations for hotel services during that timeframe.

Free eclipse glasses

The City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department will distribute 10,000 free eclipse glasses starting March 11. Those glasses will be available at the Austin Nature & Science Center, recreation centers and senior centers, per the release.

The Austin Public Library is also expected to pass out eclipse glasses at its branches on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning April 4. Interested participants can also come to four APL branches to create their own eclipse viewer and pinhole projector projects.

Increased 911, emergency personnel staffing

City leaders said 911 Emergency Communications will bump up its staffing volumes the weekend leading into the eclipse. Beginning Friday, April 6, and running through the morning of Tuesday, April 9, extra staff will be on the clock to help manage any extra call loads, per the memo.

Both Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services will also up their staffing volumes to aid at the Emergency Operations Center as necessary. APD’s Patrol unit will be at 100% staffing “and will authorize overtime from April 5 through April 9 to handle additional or increased needs,” the memo added.

The coalition of HSEM, TCOEM, the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), TxDOT, CAPCOG and other regional entities will coalesce to maintain coordination before and during the event, with a situational assessment team planned at the Emergency Operation Center.

To help ensure communications remain intact during the eclipse, the Travis County Amateur Radio Emergency Service team will be available to help offer back-up radio support throughout the region in an effort to prevent possible impacts to area communication systems and cell towers.

How to plan a neighborhood watch party

Those interested in hosting a neighborhood block party can submit a permit application via the Transportation and Public Works Special Events team.

What city-led eclipse events are planned?

• March 2: Planetarium show at the Austin Nature and Science Center
• March 2: Pop-up planetarium at the Austin Nature and Science Center
• March 2: Adult craft time making constellation embroidery at the Milwood Library
• March 8: Adult craft time making constellation watercolors at the Twin Oaks Library
• March 16: Pop-up planetarium at the Windsor Park Library
• March 23: Pop-up planetarium at the University Hills Library
• March 23: Planetarium show at the Austin Nature and Science Center
• March 25: Adult craft time making constellation embroidery at the Old Quarry Library
• March 30: Pop-up planetarium at the Ruiz Library
• March 30: Planetarium show at the Austin Nature and Science Center
• April 2: Pop-up planetarium at the Oak Hill Library
• April 5: Pop-up planetarium at the Willie Mae Kirk Library
• April 6: Pop-up planetarium at the Old Quarry Library
• April 6: Planetarium show, small-scale replica of the Mars Rover and NASA courses at the Austin Nature and Science Center
• April 7: Planetarium show, small-scale replica of the Mars Rover and NASA courses at the Austin Nature and Science Center
• April 7: Adult craft time making space opera embroidery at the Ruiz Library
• April 8: Livestream of the eclipse with a light-sound device for people with visual impairments to experience the eclipse at the Connelly G. Guerrero Senior Activity Center
• April 8: Adult craft time making constellation embroidery at the Yarborough Library
• April 8: Free entry at the Zilker Botanical Gardens
• April 8: Watch parties at the following library branches and city locations:
  • North Village Library
  • Menchaca Library
  • Windsor Park Library
  • Old Quarry Library
  • Oak Hill Library
  • Pleasant Hill Library
  • Cepeda Library
  • Willie Mae Kirk Library
  • Twin Oaks Library
  • Central Library
  • Butler Park at Town Lake Metro Long Center

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