CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The Clarksville-Montgomery County Local Emergency Planning Committee met Wednesday morning with the main item on the agenda being issues involving the Total Solar Eclipse coming up August 21.
The meeting, at the E-911 Center, was attended by members of the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), city and county law enforcement agencies, fire and rescue services, first responders, the Red Cross, and others.
An estimated 200,000 people are predicted to converge on Clarksville-Montgomery County. Officials expect increased traffic problems and calls for emergency services along with health issues involving people viewing the eclipse without proper eye protection and having enough water to stay hydrated in the summer heat.
“We’re going to have extra deputies out working that day to watch for issues with traffic problems or other events that come up and to also respond to normal calls for service,” Deputy Jimmy Brown with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said.
Montgomery County Health Department Director Joey Smith warned about using eye protection to look at the eclipse. “We certainly want to encourage people to enjoy the solar eclipse but do it in a safe way. Your regular sunglasses will not provide the protection that is needed,” he said.
EMA Director Jerry Buchanan talked about the importance of drinking plenty of water. “With the temperature in August being hot it doesn’t take long until you get dehydrated so you need to make sure you have water to drink on and off to keep hydrated,” Buchanan said.
The EMA, along with public safety and emergency officials are working to put together an emergency plan for issues that may arise with the total solar eclipse event.