Photo by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
August 17, 2023
Residents advised to prepare and be friendly during upcoming eclipse events
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Patient, planned, prepared, pleasant, polite - the five “P”s county residents are being asked to consider during the two upcoming eclipse events.
During a public meeting on Monday, community members and leaders offered input and advice on what may be expected when the rest of the country descends upon us in October and this coming April. Four percent of the world’s population will be able to see totality of the Oct. 14 annular eclipse, and Bandera County is a direct hit - Vanderpool is the bullseye. The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, follows the same path.
According to experts, up to 80,000 people may attempt to witness both astronomical events within Bandera County’s lines. A few eclipse chasers have already made reservations. The Best Western has around 10 rooms left available for the April event; Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Patrica Moore said the Flying L is booked with Rice University faculty and alumni. However, many 11th-hour planners and accidental travelers will try to squeeze in last minute - like going shoulder to shoulder on an already-crowded elevator.
In addition to the onslaught of visitors, residents may face temporary food and gas shortages. The loudest suggestions include filling up gas tanks days in advance, as well as stocking pantries, getting cash, having safe eyewear on hand, and hunkering down.
“Please please please plan to enjoy this in place. If you can get all your provisions together and not leave your property, that will help,” Bandera Marshal Nancy De Foster said.
Gas tankers and food trucks may not be able to pierce the crowded highways to replenish stations and stores. Jaki Perkins, vice president and branch operations manager at Texas Hill Country Bank, said communications could lag, and ATMs may not be able to keep up with demand.
“We’re in a small town, and our small community banks can only order so much cash,” Perkins said.
Dr. Thomas Goldstein, of Bandera Eye Care, said parents must be vigilant to protect their and their children's eyes. Watching a solar eclipse is a memorable experience (after the April 8 event, the next total solar eclipse viewable in the United States will not occur for 20 years), but looking directly at the sun can permanently damage the eyes, even during an eclipse.
The only safe way to observe the phenomenon is with specifically designed eclipse viewing glasses, or through cameras or telescopes with special solar filters. Not even the darkest sunglasses are safe.
Finally, many tourists - especially those from out of state - do not know what the color purple means in Texas. De Foster advised property owners to not necessarily charge after unwitting trespassers with shotguns in hand.
“There will be people who don’t know this is happening, and they will get caught up in the excitement on their way to somewhere else, then stop here,” De Foster said. “This event is only a couple of hours - if someone ends up parking on your grass, is that really the end of the world? Show visitors good will in Bandera.”
For the annular eclipse, the transition will be viewable in Bandera at about 10:23 a.m. Totality will take place at 11:50 a.m., and last just more than four minutes until the moon has moved fully away at 1:33 p.m.
The total solar eclipse in April 2024 will enter Texas as it crosses the Rio Grande River at the Mexico/U.S. border at about 12:10 p.m. Totality has been calculated to begin in Bandera at about 1:31 p.m., with a duration of four minutes and 3.8 seconds - the longest in the country.
De Foster is organizing a volunteer group to help disseminate information and organize efforts.
“I do have a traffic control plan,” De Foster said, adding she intends to block side streets for local traffic only.
She also requests that anyone planning an event within the city limits register with the Marshal’s Office. Email [email protected] for more details or to sign up.
During a public meeting on Monday, community members and leaders offered input and advice on what may be expected when the rest of the country descends upon us in October and this coming April. Four percent of the world’s population will be able to see totality of the Oct. 14 annular eclipse, and Bandera County is a direct hit - Vanderpool is the bullseye. The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, follows the same path.
According to experts, up to 80,000 people may attempt to witness both astronomical events within Bandera County’s lines. A few eclipse chasers have already made reservations. The Best Western has around 10 rooms left available for the April event; Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Patrica Moore said the Flying L is booked with Rice University faculty and alumni. However, many 11th-hour planners and accidental travelers will try to squeeze in last minute - like going shoulder to shoulder on an already-crowded elevator.
In addition to the onslaught of visitors, residents may face temporary food and gas shortages. The loudest suggestions include filling up gas tanks days in advance, as well as stocking pantries, getting cash, having safe eyewear on hand, and hunkering down.
“Please please please plan to enjoy this in place. If you can get all your provisions together and not leave your property, that will help,” Bandera Marshal Nancy De Foster said.
Gas tankers and food trucks may not be able to pierce the crowded highways to replenish stations and stores. Jaki Perkins, vice president and branch operations manager at Texas Hill Country Bank, said communications could lag, and ATMs may not be able to keep up with demand.
“We’re in a small town, and our small community banks can only order so much cash,” Perkins said.
Dr. Thomas Goldstein, of Bandera Eye Care, said parents must be vigilant to protect their and their children's eyes. Watching a solar eclipse is a memorable experience (after the April 8 event, the next total solar eclipse viewable in the United States will not occur for 20 years), but looking directly at the sun can permanently damage the eyes, even during an eclipse.
The only safe way to observe the phenomenon is with specifically designed eclipse viewing glasses, or through cameras or telescopes with special solar filters. Not even the darkest sunglasses are safe.
Finally, many tourists - especially those from out of state - do not know what the color purple means in Texas. De Foster advised property owners to not necessarily charge after unwitting trespassers with shotguns in hand.
“There will be people who don’t know this is happening, and they will get caught up in the excitement on their way to somewhere else, then stop here,” De Foster said. “This event is only a couple of hours - if someone ends up parking on your grass, is that really the end of the world? Show visitors good will in Bandera.”
For the annular eclipse, the transition will be viewable in Bandera at about 10:23 a.m. Totality will take place at 11:50 a.m., and last just more than four minutes until the moon has moved fully away at 1:33 p.m.
The total solar eclipse in April 2024 will enter Texas as it crosses the Rio Grande River at the Mexico/U.S. border at about 12:10 p.m. Totality has been calculated to begin in Bandera at about 1:31 p.m., with a duration of four minutes and 3.8 seconds - the longest in the country.
De Foster is organizing a volunteer group to help disseminate information and organize efforts.
“I do have a traffic control plan,” De Foster said, adding she intends to block side streets for local traffic only.
She also requests that anyone planning an event within the city limits register with the Marshal’s Office. Email [email protected] for more details or to sign up.