With the April 8 solar eclipse drawing near, New York State is making preparations to make sure the event is a safe and memorable one.
For the past 17 months, the Interagency Task Force — which is comprised of nearly two dozen state agencies and authorities — has been collaborating to make sure New Yorkers can safely view the eclipse. On the afternoon of April 8, the total eclipse will encompass 29 counties in the western and northern parts of New York State, with 88 percent to over 99 percent coverage in areas outside of the path of totality.
The next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous U.S. will not be until August 2044.
“The April 8 eclipse is a once in a generation experience, and there’s no better place to view it than in our beautiful state,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “New York is ready to welcome millions of visitors, and my administration has been working hard to ensure everyone in the path of the eclipse can safely enjoy this rare event. I encourage anyone traveling for this experience to plan on arriving early to their destination and staying late to enjoy all of what our state has to offer.”
With the state expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors to check out the eclipse, Governor Hochul is reminding travelers to get to their destination early and plan on staying late to avoid the most traffic, allow for extra travel time, and travel prepared with water and snacks. Drivers are also advised to never pull over on the side of the road, especially during the eclipse, to ensure first responders can get by in an emergency.
State Police, DOT and Thruway are being directed to prepare for a large influx of traffic the weekend leading up to the eclipse and through April 9. During this time, DOT and Thruway will have increased staffing and patrols for maintenance and traffic crews, and all road work will be suspended.
In preparation for the eclipse, Hochul launched a statewide effort to distribute limited-edition I LOVE NY eclipse glasses at 30 locations throughout the state. There are a limited amount of glasses available for distribution daily, and additional sources for eye protection are available here. A downloadable special edition eclipse poster is also available, created through I LOVE NY’s partnership with artist and professional astronomer Dr. Tyler Nordgren. Visit iloveny.com/eclipse for viewing locations and additional safety tips.
Read More: Rangers Vs Hurricanes 2nd-Round Preview
