Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 FEATURE
Tuesday 27 June 2017

Joe Krenowicz, executive director of the Madras-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, looks toward Mt. Jefferson as the sun rises over Madras, Oregon on
June 13, 2017. The first place to experience total darkness as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth will be in Oregon and Madras, in the central part of
the state, is expected to be a prime viewing location. Up to 1 million people are expected in Oregon for the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in 99 years and
up to 100,000 could show up in Madras and surrounding Jefferson County. Officials are worried about the ability of the rural area to host so many visitors and are
concerned about the danger of wildfire from so many people camping on public lands.
(AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)
Eclipse chasers blaze trail to Oregon for view of a lifetime

GILLIAN FLACCUS In this vast expanse of Earth, the path of totality cate. mand. Sanitation trucks
Associated Press ranches and farms, ru- — meaning total darkness Federal and local officials will run almost around the
MADRAS, Ore. (AP) — Just ral, two-lane roads could — from the moon’s shad- will stage engines and oth- clock, transporting trash
before sunrise, there’s typi- mean traffic jams of cosmic ow will begin on Oregon’s er resources at key loca- to 50-yard-long (46-meter-
cally nothing atop Round proportions. Every hotel in coast, then cross the north- tions, and firefighters from long) dumpsters before it
Butte but the whistle of the Madras is booked, some central part of the state other agencies and private rots in triple-digit tempera-
wind and a panoramic residents are renting their from west to east. companies will send extra tures.
view of Oregon’s second- homes for $3,000 a night, But as the hype builds, au- crews. But it’s impossible Gas stations are filling their
highest peak glowing pink and campers are expect- thorities are increasingly to plan for everything, and underground tanks in ad-
in the faint light. ed to flood the national for- worried that people who tourists frustrated with traf- vance, and businesses are
But on Aug. 21, local of- ests and grasslands during planned to watch from fic may use forest access being told to use cash only,
ficials expect this look- peak wildfire season. the notoriously foggy coast roads as shortcuts, further to avoid bringing down the
out point just outside the The state’s emergency co- could move east at the last raising fire risk, said Kent wireless network. Banks are
small town of Madras to ordination center will gear minute if the forecast sours. Koeller, a recreation plan- stocking their ATMs, local
be crammed with people up, and first responders will And Oregonians who live ner with U.S. Forest Service hospitals have canceled
from around the world, all prepare to respond to any outside the path of totality outside Madras. vacations, and pregnant
hoping for the first glimpse trouble as they would for an could decide to drive to “Just driving off-road - hav- women close to their due
of the moon’s shadow as it earthquake or other natural one of the prime viewing ing that contact with a hot dates are being told to
crosses Mount Jefferson’s disaster. Cell towers could spots at the spur of the mo- muffler or a catalytic con- leave to avoid getting
snow fields. Then, a solar be overwhelmed, traffic will ment, creating havoc on verter - could start an igni- stuck.
eclipse will throw the entire be gridlocked, and police the roads, said Cory Gro- tion,” he said. “And in these “What we’ve asked our res-
region into complete dark- and fire stretched to the gan, spokesman for the Or- fine fuels, it could spread idents to do is get prepared
ness for two minutes. max managing the crowds. egon Office of Emergency very quickly.” ahead of time. About a
The first coast-to-coast to- “Bring extra water, bring Management. Lysa Vattimo was hired week out, fuel up on pro-
tal solar eclipse to cross the food. You need to be pre- In addition, many tour- two years ago to coordi- pane, gas, whatever fuels
continental United States pared to be able to survive ists will be camping in hot, nate the town’s planning they need, get their pre-
in 99 years will first be vis- on your own for 24 to 48 to tinder-dry conditions, or efforts with more than 50 scriptions, go to the doctor,
ible in Oregon, and Madras 72 hours, just like you would even sleeping in their cars. local, state and federal do what you need to do,”
is predicted to be among in any sort of emergen- First responders have been agencies. She spends her she said. “And then stay
the country’s best viewing cy,” said Dave Thompson, planning for months for a days trying to think of every home.”
spots because of its clear, spokesman for the Oregon worst-case scenario: evac- possible consequence of In Madras, hotels were
high-desert skies, flat land- Department of Transporta- uating tens of thousands of having tens of thousands booked years ago, and
scape and stunning moun- tion. “This is pretty much a people while trying to get of people in a town of just spots at 25 campgrounds
tain views. once-in-a-lifetime oppor- fire engines through grid- 6,500 — and her nights wor- in and around the town
Up to 1 million eclipse chas- tunity, and it’s really worth locked roads. Cellular tow- rying she missed something. are going fast. Farmers
ers will descend on Oregon seeing. But you’ve got to ers also may be crippled The town and surround- are renting out their land
for the celestial event, and be prepared or you won’t by the volume of people ing campsites have rented for pop-up campgrounds,
officials are bracing for as enjoy it.” texting, calling and posting nearly 700 portable toilets, and thousands of parking
many as 100,000 of them in When the moon passes photos, making it difficult including some from as spaces for day trippers are
and around Madras. between the sun and the for fire crews to communi- far as Idaho, to meet de- getting snapped up.q