AUSTIN, Texas — We are less than a week away from the historic solar eclipse that will briefly turn our skies dark.
Early Tuesday afternoon, local leaders provided an update on how they're preparing for the eclipse, as they expect a rush of visitors to arrive in the Austin area over the next six days.
Central Texas has a front row seat for the total solar eclipse.
“Our community has a chance to really view something spectacular, and we want everyone to do that safely, to prioritize their wellbeing, and to know how to prepare,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.
Heavy traffic is a top concern, along with keeping the public safe. Brad Willis with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said he predicts there will be over a million people coming to Austin.
“That’s going to mean a substantial increase in traffic volumes on our traffic corridors, from Laredo to Paris, Texas,” Willis said.
Leaders said they have emergency management teams ready to go, crews to help with traffic on deck, and have mapped out the best places to view the eclipse. But they’re not the only folks preparing for the historical event.
Hotels and restaurants prepare
“For almost over a year, we've been preparing for this from a compression standpoint,” Christopher Guse, Hotel Van Zandt’s general manager, said.
He said with the CMT Music Awards on Sunday and the eclipse on Monday, the hotel will be packed.
“We have 319 rooms, including five of our presidential suites,” Guse said. "No rooms will be available as of right now."
Guse said the hotel is clearing out its pool deck to make sure everyone watching outside has a space to go.
“We’ve got a few scientists and a few meteorologists here telling us it’s going to be right here,” he said as he pointed to the pool deck. “We’ve got all the logistics down to the minute of where it’s going to be.”
Ken Snipes, director of Austin's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office, said hotels downtown are at a 77% occupancy rate from Saturday to Monday and hotel rates are up 48% from this time last year.
“We are asking everyone to expect impacts,” Snipes said.
All those visitors need somewhere to eat, too. Terry Black's Barbecue said it's on top of getting ready for the rush.
“Yeah, we're expecting about 3,000 to 5,000 [people],” General Manager Darien Kapture said.
He said staff have been talking with vendors to make sure they’re stocked up on food to accommodate the crowds.
“About 500 briskets, 375 pork ribs, 150 to 200 beef ribs, about 70 to 80 turkeys,” Kapture said.
He said they have to start cooking the meat two days ahead of time. They've got the extra food, extra staff and they'll even be extending their patio to fit extra people coming.
“Traditionally, the line does goes around the corner – it goes go around the pit house and then it'll start coming through the middle of the parking lot. During F1 in October, we did have it actually go down to the sidewalk,” he said.
Kapture said people shouldn't let the line scare them from getting a good meal.
“You know, find some parking in the area. There is plenty of paid parking, or you can Uber. That’s something we suggest as well. Don’t let the line fear you. We’ll get through pretty fast,” Kapture said.
Preparing early
What the city, county, restaurants and hotels all have in common is they're ready for the solar eclipse.
City leaders said that businesses and roads everywhere will be busy. They say on Monday, try to stay put if you can. If you do want to go somewhere else to watch the eclipse, leaders advise you to prepare to go early and then stay late at the location to account for the massive amount of traffic that’ll be leaving the city.
They ask people to refuel their cars and grocery shop in advance. They said they also want people to be aware that they may experience interruptions in cellphone service because carriers may be overloaded. Texting is the best way to communicate with folks. They advise you also have a plan set with friends or family to meet in a safe location if you’re not able to contact family.