OSWEGO COUNTY – Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup issued Emergency Order 2024-E1 yesterday in coordination with the State of Emergency declared on April 1. Both actions address county operations on Monday, April 8 when the total solar eclipse occurs.
“To ensure that routine county operations don’t aggravate or contribute to the high volume of traffic anticipated on April 8, this Emergency Order closes all county facilities – except essential operations – that day without penalizing county employees for the unexpected closure,” said Chairman Weatherup.
More than 100,000 visitors are anticipated to come to – or drive through – Oswego County for the upcoming solar eclipse, which will likely have a significant impact on traffic flow and cellular communication throughout the area and, in turn, potentially affect emergency services and public safety.
“We have over 1,000 employees, most of whom drive to and from work, and a large number of people who come to our buildings for business every day. Therefore, we’re taking this unusual step of closing non-essential county facilities to help reduce traffic congestion on our roadways.”
In addition, the Oswego County Highway Department will stop maintenance and construction operations on major county roads on April 8, so as not to disrupt the flow of traffic.
The following essential county services will remain fully operational:
- E-911 Center
- Sheriff’s Office, including the Correctional Facility
- Fire Coordinator’s Office
- Emergency Management Office
- District Attorney’s Office, including the Coroner’s Office
- Public Defender’s Office
County buildings and offices will return to normal business hours on Tuesday, April 9.
For more information about Oswego County operations on April 8, visit the Oswego County Tourism eclipse webpage at https://visitoswegocounty.com/eclipse/ and click on the links for “Helpful Articles.”
The State of Emergency and Emergency order are simply precautionary measures in anticipation of high traffic volumes and possible communications disruptions due to a large number of data users in the area on April 8. In addition to increased traffic and possible dropped calls or busy signals, this also likely means longer lines and wait times at traffic lights, gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants.
“Traffic is estimated to be highest in the afternoon and into the evening, so we’re encouraging visitors to come early and stay late to help keep traffic moving,” said Chairman Weatherup. “People should call ahead to their destination, whether it’s a grocery store or a doctor’s office, to verify business hours on Monday, as they may change. Most importantly, we’re asking people to please have extra patience. You will still get to where you’re going.”
Oswego County officials are advising people to be prepared for crowds with these tips: re-schedule appointments, if possible; get groceries and gas up early; pack snacks and water; and have a phone charger and a WiFi signal as back-up.
To prepare for eclipse viewing, safe eyewear is of utmost importance to avoid serious eye or vision injury. Regular sunglasses – no matter how dark – will not protect your eyes. Only special purpose solar filters that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard allow people to safely look directly at the sun. Keep in mind that these special eclipse glasses should only be used for eclipse viewing and not while engaging in other activities such as driving.
For details about safer solar filters and viewers, visit the American Astronomical Society’s eclipse website at https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters. Free eclipse glasses are available while supplies last at the Oswego County Tourism office, 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego.
There may also be issues with driving conditions due to near nighttime skies – particularly during the period of totality between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. Drivers are advised to be especially aware of pedestrians and look out for wildlife that may behave according to their normal nighttime schedules at that time.
A drop in temperature is also expected during the eclipse, so eclipse viewers are reminded to dress for the weather and bring extra layers for comfort. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen, insect repellent and first-aid kits.
The total solar eclipse will be viewable throughout all of Oswego County. Start and end times will vary slightly by location, but generally, it begins after 2 p.m. (with totality occurring between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m.) and concludes after 4:30 p.m.
For more information about the eclipse including eye safety, schedule changes, events, pet tips and general readiness, go to https://visitoswegocounty.com/eclipse/.
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