Eclipse Information Guide Marion County, Oregon Total Solar Eclipse: Monday, August 21, 2017 Anticipated Community Impact Days: August 17 – August 22, 2017 Eclipse Begins: 9:05 a.m. Total Eclipse Occurs: 10:18 a.m. Total Darkness: 1 minute 54 seconds Be Ready, Be Patient, Be Safe…Enjoy!!! Issue Date: August 8, 2017 Marion County, Oregon Issue Date: 08/02/17 Eclipse Information Guide ‐ 2017 Page 2 of 22 Table of Contents A. A Message from Marion County B. Eclipse Facts C. Tips ‐ for Residents D. Tips ‐ for Visitors E. Tips ‐ for Businesses F. Safety ‐ 911, When and How to Call for Emergency Response G. Safety – on the Water H. Safety ‐ Earthquakes I. Safety ‐ Eye Protection (Eclipse Viewing) J. Safety ‐ Fire Prevention K. Safety ‐ Food L. Safety – Heat, Extreme M. Safety ‐ Transportation, Travel and Parking N. Info ‐ Animal Preparedness O. Info ‐ Garbage, Solid Waste and Sanitation P. Info ‐ Medical Services and First Aid Q. Info ‐ Public Health R. Info ‐ Rules and Etiquette S. Quick Reference ‐ Emergency Notification System – Marion Alerts T. Quick Reference ‐ Community Information and Links U. Quick Reference ‐ Non‐Emergency Public Safety Contacts For additional information or questions contact Marion County Emergency Management (503) 588‐5108 [email protected] www.co.marion.or.us/PW/EmergencyManagement Back to Table of Contents Marion County, Oregon www.co.marion.or.us Marion County, Oregon Issue Date: 08/02/17 Eclipse Information Guide ‐ 2017 Page 3 of 22 A. A Message from Marion County Message from the Marion County Board of Commissioners At 10:18 a.m. on August 21, 2017, Marion County residents and visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience a total solar eclipse from the path of totality. This eclipse will make first landfall at the Oregon Coast and travel through the state before crossing the U.S. The eclipse is generating a great deal of interest from people looking to experience a solar eclipse first hand. Marion County is working diligently with other government agencies and community partners to plan for an influx of visitors to ensure that our infrastructure and resources are ready to meet the increased demand. Visitors are expected beginning Thursday, August 18, through Tuesday, August 22, and area residents are encouraged to enjoy the eclipse from home and travel only if absolutely necessary. Marion County Emergency Management is recommending stocking up on supplies like food and gas and having cash on hand before visitors arrive. It is likely that cell phone coverage will be spotty as networks become congested with the increased traffic – be sure to have a plan for back‐up communications. As thousands of additional people arrive for this once in a lifetime event, we encourage residents and visitors alike to be prepared, patient, and safe – and most importantly, enjoy this unique celestial experience! Sincerely, Marion County Board of Commissioners Sam Brentano, Chair Janet Carlson Kevin Cameron Email: [email protected] Phone: (503) 588‐5212 Message from the Marion County Emergency Manager Thank you for taking the time to review the “Marion County Eclipse Information Guide.” Everyone will remember this historic event; we want you to remember it for the natural beauty, not because your experience was tainted by an injury or accident. It has truly been amazing to see all of the public and private partners working together the past several months to do everything they can to make your viewing experience an amazing one. Please do your part to be as prepared as possible for this event. We have high expectations that the services we depend on every day will be available. This event will place a strain on all of our systems. Despite all of our work, there will be significant impacts. Be patient! A few moments to prepare could make the difference. Ed Flick Marion County Emergency Manager Email: [email protected] Phone: (503) 365‐3133 Back to Table of Contents Marion County, Oregon www.co.marion.or.us Marion County, Oregon Issue Date: 08/02/17 Eclipse Information Guide ‐ 2017 Page 4 of 22 B. Eclipse Facts On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe‐inspiring sights ‐ a total solar eclipse. This path, where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun's tenuous atmosphere ‐ the corona ‐ can be seen, from Lincoln City, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun's disk. Who Can See It? Everyone in the contiguous United States, in fact, everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse, while the thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 states. What Is It? This celestial event is a solar eclipse in which the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to about three hours, from beginning to end, as viewed from a given location. For this eclipse, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about 2 minutes, 40 seconds. The last time the contiguous U.S. saw a total eclipse was in 1979. How Can You See It? Never look directly at the sun without appropriate protection except during totality; this can severely hurt eyes. However, there are many ways to safely view an eclipse of the sun including direct viewing – which requires some type of filtering device and indirect viewing where you project an image of the sun onto a screen. Both methods should produce clear images of the partial phase of an eclipse. For specific eclipse viewing safety tips visit NASA’s eclipse website. To see the eclipse path, check out this NASA video. Source: NASA https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/ How to Safely View the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse Back to Table of Contents Marion County, Oregon www.co.marion.or.us Marion County, Oregon Issue Date: 08/02/17 Eclipse Information Guide ‐ 2017 Page 5 of 22 C. Tips for Residents Eclipse Begins Monday, August 21, 2017, at 9:05 a.m. with totality expected at 10:18 a.m. Anticipated Community Impact Days: Thursday, August 17, 2017 through Tuesday, August 22, 2017 Traffic will be heavy and lines for local services such as restaurants, gas stations, grocery and retail stores may be longer than usual; do what you can ahead of time before the anticipated impact days and allow for extra time to get where you need to go. Things to consider doing in advance to make life a little easier during the heaviest congestion periods: o Errands & Appointments: Schedule your errands and appointments early, no later than Wednesday, August 16 if possible. Check ahead if you have plans for Monday, August 21; some services may be closed or have limited hours during this time. By scheduling errands early, you will beat the crowds and give our local stores and businesses time to restock before the eclipse visitors arrive; this includes grocery shopping, doctor/dentist/veterinary appointments, refilling prescriptions, etc. o Supplies: In general, supplies may be limited due to the high demand; which means the items you want may not available during the impact days. If there is something important you need or want, get it early. o Gas Up: Be sure to gas up early, preferably before Thursday, August 17. o Cash: If you regularly use cash or want some on hand, consider visiting your local bank or ATM before Thursday, August 17th. 911: Know when it is appropriate to call 911 (true emergencies) and the have the non‐emergency phone number for your local Dispatch Center programmed into your phone ahead of time [See Section F – Safety – 911 Services]. Response times may be longer due to the increase in calls. 211: Use to look for community information and resources when it’s not an emergency. Call, text your zip code to 211 or email [email protected] for information. 511: “Know before you go” by visiting Oregon Department of Transportation’s Trip Check at www.tripcheck.com for updated traffic information. Cellular Service: With the increased number of visitors, local public safety officials anticipate cellular service may become overwhelmed (primarily Monday, August 21) or have limited access during the impact days. During this time, consider: o Develop a communication plan with family and friends if you lose or have limited cellular service. o If you only have a mobile phone at home, find out which of your neighbors has a landline number in case you need to call 911 for an emergency. Public Water Systems: Consider postponing watering your lawn or using “extra” water during the anticipated impact days to take pressure off of the public water systems during this time. Reminder from Public Health: A food preparation license is required if you plan to prepare and sell perishable food items from your home or business to others; contact Marion County Health Department at (503) 588‐5346 for more information. Individual/Family Emergency Plans: Consider the eclipse event a drill to check your emergency kits and emergency plans. If you do not have a kit or have not talked about your emergency plans, now is a great time to do so. The Marion County Emergency Management website has information to help in planning efforts; make sure family members and friends know your plans. Back to Table of Contents Marion County, Oregon www.co.marion.or.us Marion County, Oregon Issue Date: 08/02/17 Eclipse Information Guide ‐ 2017 Page 6 of 22 Marion County Emergency Notification System: Take a minute to look at the options available to you to receive emergency and community information for Marion County and the Salem area.