A note from Paige Ellis, City Council Woman:

We’re just days away from witnessing the solar eclipse on April 8, and Central Texas is going to be one of the best spots to experience this celestial event!

There is much excitement building up to Monday – for both Austinites and others looking to travel to our region for the event.

Here are some advisories and safety tips to ensure you’re prepared:

• Plan ahead for the eclipse. Officials are urging folks to stay close to home and avoid non-essential travel on Monday. Walk, bike, or carpool to your viewing location if possible. Multiple city parks, including Zilker Park, will be eclipse viewing locations where Austin Parks and Recreation staff will be on-site with eclipse glasses, information about the eclipse, and then will accept the glasses back for recycling. NASA will also be at the Austin Nature and Science Center this Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and April 7, with family-friendly, educational events leading up to Monday! You can view more details for this weekend’s events, additional safety tips, and more at austintexas.gov/parkseclipse.

• Help reduce traffic by arriving early and staying late. If you are traveling to a viewing location, do not rush to your destination or on your return home. You don’t want to be caught in a surge of traffic expected along major corridors, including I-35, SH 71, and US 290. It’s strongly encouraged to be prepared with food, water, and a full tank of gas in case you get caught in gridlock traffic. But the message is clear: There’s not a bad seat in the house within city limits, and the closer to home you are, the better! Also be prepared for possible slower cell service. Cell phone networks could get overloaded with such an influx of people, so try to coordinate plans as much as possible ahead of time to minimize reliance on cells throughout the day.

• Prioritize safety above all. DO NOT stop in the middle of roadways or pull off onto shoulders to watch the eclipse. While you may think it’s just a stop for a few minutes, these actions can cause even more strain on the traffic expected and are a safety hazard for other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Keep your eyes on the road, and do not attempt to catch glimpses of the eclipse while driving. Keep your headlights on when driving, even in the daylight.

• Protect your eyes. Never look directly at an eclipse without proper eclipse glasses, regular sunglasses are not enough. You also don’t want to look through the lens of a telescope, binoculars, or camera unless you have an approved solar filter attached to the front. This can cause severe eye damage! Don’t use regular sunglasses to look at an eclipse. Austin Public Library branches are giving out glasses for free, while supplies last and a limit of two per person. If you plan to pick up a few pairs from the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, make sure you give them a call beforehand, 512-974-9900, to make sure they still have glasses available.

• Be prepared for traffic delays all weekend long. There are several other events this weekend that are already drawing more visitors to the city this weekend, including the CMT Music Awards and the Statesman Cap 10k both happening on Sunday, April 7. City officials say Austin Bergstrom International Airport is expecting a high volume of travelers on April 8 and April 9. Its recommended travelers arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights.

• Get your kids ready. As of April 2, both Austin ISD and Eanes ISD plan to operate on a regular schedule on the day of the eclipse. The school districts’ eclipse pages (AISD, Eanes) offer fun eclipse-related activities, safety information, and other resources, so whether your kids will be with you during the big event or at school, you may wish to check those out to help your family prepare.

The last time the eclipse’s path of totality crossed over the Central Texas area was in 1878. After this year, there won't be another total solar eclipse visible in this region for more than 300 years! While we’re hoping for clear skies, NASA will have a livestream of the eclipse in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.

I do hope you’ll take the time to safely witness this once-in-a-lifetime cosmic show. Visit readycentraltexas.org/eclipse for more safety tips, viewing locations, and more.

Paige