Area residents should be preparing for visitors to arrive over the next few days to view the Monday, April 8, total solar eclipse. While the City of Whitney is not planning any events and is focusing its efforts on preparing resources, Lake Whitney campgrounds are fully booked, and private landowners in the area are hosting guests and activities.
On Monday, April 8, the total eclipse in Whitney will begin at 1:38 p.m. and last approximately four minutes and 20 seconds, but effects of the eclipse will be observable from 12:21 p.m. to 3:01 p.m.
The city is encouraging local residents to prepare their own households for the increase in population before the crowds arrive. Visitors are expected to begin filtering in by Thursday, April 4. Locals who have not done so already should consider buying groceries, getting prescriptions and fueling vehicles. City officials stressed that there is no need to clear the shelves of grocery stores or stock up on extra fuel. Impacts are only expected for a few days through the eclipse.
Whitney ISD and other area school districts will not hold classes Monday. Schools throughout the county were encouraged by emergency management officials to close on eclipse day to minimize traffic and potential problems for first responders.
The biggest concern is traffic, particularly when the visitors start leaving at the same time after the eclipse. For that reason, city officials encouraged residents to stay put and enjoy the eclipse from home, if possible. Backup plans are being made to decrease the risk of emergency vehicles being stuck in traffic, and city officials said that police, fire and EMS crews will be staged at various locations around the city to make access easier.
With resources strained and the traffic situation uncertain, residents were also asked not to call 9-1-1 unless they are experiencing a true emergency.
With all eyes on the sky, it is extremely important to keep safety in mind. Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality.
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse safety glasses or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark or polarized lenses, are not safe for looking at the sun. Eclipse glasses and hand-held solar viewers should meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products.
Certified eclipse glasses are available from the Lake Whitney Chamber of Commerce at a cost of $2 each. The Lake Whitney Public Library is also providing eclipse glasses to anyone who signs up for a library card or checks out a book.
Other tips for safe viewing include:
• Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device.
• Do not look at the sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer – the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.
• Do not assume that your welding helmet is enough. Only welding filters with a shade number of 12 or higher are safe for eclipse viewing. Shade number 12 may still be uncomfortable and shade number 15 is too dark. The “sweet spot” is shade 13, which best matches the view in purpose-made eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers, though shade 14 works well, too.
• Do not use adjustable or auto-darkening welding helmets as they do not auto-darken fast enough to protect your eyes.
The Lakelander 