MONROE CO. – The solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Indiana population. Agencies around Monroe County have come together to form a Joint Information Center to help prepare the public for the event.
Representatives from the following agencies are part of the Joint Information Center: City of Bloomington, Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College, Visit Bloomington, Monroe Fire Protection District, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Hoosier National Forest, IU Health Bloomington, Monroe Hospital, Monroe Convention Center, Monroe County Health Department, and the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency.
Monroe County is within the path of totality, which is the area that will receive the total eclipse experience
if weather conditions are clear. Leading experts estimate 200,000 to 300,000 visitors from Friday, April 5, to Monday, April 8.
Concerns from this population increase include:
- Long travel delays lasting up to several hours
- Communication service complications due to overloaded cell towers
- Low fuel supply and grocery store stock
The Joint Information Center encourages residents and visitors to consider these tips to prepare for the
eclipse:
- If viewing the eclipse, wear the proper eyeglasses. Click here to find a valid vendor for glasses.
- Have a full tank of fuel in your vehicle before traveling to your eclipse viewing location
- Fully charge your electric vehicle before traveling. Click here for a map of charging stations.
- Have an emergency supply kit in your vehicle with essential supplies, medications, and enough non-perishable food and bottled water for each occupant to last at least 12 hours.
- Try to limit cell phone usage to texting when possible to help prevent overwhelming the towers.
For more preparedness and eclipse information, check out the following trusted websites:
- Monroe County Emergency Management: https://bit.ly/mocoemergencymanagement_eclipse.
- Indiana University: https://eclipse.iu.edu/index.html.
- Department of Natural Resources: https://www.in.gov/dnr/places-to-go/events/2024-solar-eclipse/.
- Hoosier National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hoosier/learning/nature-science/?cid=fseprd1101633.
- Events and visitors: https://www.visitbloomington.com/2024-solar-eclipse/.
