With the highly anticipated total solar eclipse only days away, Northumberland County is asking residents to make safety and emergency preparedness priorities in the coming days.
Northumberland County is in the path of totality for the eclipse occurring on Monday (April 8). For the first time since 1979, Ontario will be in the path of a total solar eclipse and southern Northumberland County is a prime viewing area to see the celestial phenomenon.
Expecting residents and visitors alike to gather in hopes of seeing the rare occurrence, the county is asking people to put safety first.
“Our top priority is the safety of residents,” said Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander in a statement.
“We are anticipating a large influx of visitors to our community, so we urge everyone to take the necessary precautions and follow safety guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Residents are encouraged to take the following safety precautions during the solar eclipse event:
- Do not look at the sun without eye protection. Residents should only use certified safety glasses to protect their eyes when viewing the eclipse
- Given the anticipated influx of visitors, residents should stock up well ahead of time on essential supplies and fuel
- People should plan ahead to determine their eclipse viewing location, arrive early, and avoid unnecessary travel during the event
- Residents should ensure their emergency kit is up-to-date and easily accessible
- People should keep small children and pets indoors during the eclipse
- Residents should follow any additional safety guidelines provided by local authorities and health officials.
VIDEO: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Northumberland County
Meanwhile, the county is also taking a proactive approach and planning ahead for the event.
“As a precaution, Northumberland County is taking steps to enhance emergency readiness, including increasing paramedic staffing and having roads crews on standby that day,” the county noted in a media release. “To ensure the safety of residents during the eclipse event, the county is also adjusting operations where services cannot safely be delivered in the dark.”
County recycling centres (CRCs), located in Bewdley, Seymour, and Brighton, will be closing early on April 8th at 1 p.m. and will remain closed for the remainder of the day. This decision is being made as CRCs are not designed to operate in the dark, with limited on-site lighting, the county noted. Regular operating hours will resume the following day, ensuring minimal disruption to waste and recycling services.
In addition, Northumberland County Forest will be closed from noon on Sunday, April 7 through to the morning of Tuesday, April 9.
“This temporary closure aims to ensure the well-being of visitors and pets during the eclipse event, including avoiding any potential safety hazards from active nocturnal wildlife,” the county stated.
On April 8, county roads crews will be on standby to respond to any road issues or closures.
The county’s long-term care home in Cobourg, the Golden Plough Lodge, will have additional support on the day shift as a precautionary measure to mitigate any potential staffing challenges later in the day, the county noted. The Northumberland County Archives and Museum will be closed on April 8.
If needed, the county is also prepared to activate its emergency operations centre, which is used to manage an emergency situation and maintain services to the community.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the earth’s surface. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun, casting a shadow on the earth — visible to people in what is referred to as the “path of totality.”
Assuming there are ideal weather conditions (a sunny day with few or no clouds in the sky), residents will witness the eclipse beginning just after 2 p.m. With southern Northumberland County including Brighton, Colborne, Grafton, Cobourg, and Port Hope being in the path of totality, residents will see darkness for a period of one to two minutes.
In addition to southern Northumberland County, Hamilton, Brantford, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls are also in the path of totality, along with some communities in southwestern Ontario.
During a recent media briefing, reporters heard how Niagara Falls is seeing a dramatic increase in hotel reservations being booked as people plan to take in the once-in-a-lifetime event.
The county said it will continue to monitor the weather and event activities for April 8 and maintain communication with partner municipalities and Emergency Management Ontario.
For more information and updates on the eclipse event and temporary closures, visit northumberland.ca/NoCoEclipse.
