Niagara declares state of emergency to prepare for solar eclipse

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Niagara Region has declared a state of emergency to deal with an expected influx of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of next month’s eclipse.

“On April 8, all of Niagara will be one of the best places in Canada to view the total solar eclipse, and thousands of visitors are expected to come to our region to see it,” the Ontario region said in a statement.

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“Declaring a State of Emergency under the EMCPA strengthens the tools the Region has at its disposal to safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors and protect our critical infrastructure in any scenario that might arise.”

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The region said that Regional Chair Jim Bradley proactively declared the state of emergency, which is effective March 28, “out of an abundance of caution” to prepare for this “once-in-a-lifetime event.”

“The spotlight will be on Niagara as thousands of visitors join us to share in this once-in-a-lifetime event, and we will be ready to shine. I would like to thank all of our local governments, first responders, and community organizations who have been working together diligently to make sure our community is able to offer a safe and unforgettable experience, both for our visitors, and for all those who call Niagara home,” Bradley said in a statement.

Several Niagara municipalities are within the path of totality and Niagara Regional Police has estimated that one million people could descend on Niagara Falls alone.

“As you can imagine, there is a finite amount of space, whether it be for vehicles or what have you in Niagara,” Const. Phil Gavin told Global News.

“Certainly the consideration is that we may exceed that limit, so we’re certainly doing as much planning as we can.”

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Niagara region recommends that visitors come prepared for big crowds and long lines. Cars should not stop on highways to take photos or view the eclipse.

Local residents should fill up on gas and stock up on groceries before the day of the eclipse. Most schools will be closed in addition to some facilities to reduce traffic on April 8.

The main event begins in a remote corner of the South Pacific as the sun rises on April 8. The moon’s shadow will make landfall that morning on Mexico’s west coast, then head to Texas and sweep across much of the United States.

When the penumbra arrives in the southwestern corner of Ontario just before 2 p.m. EDT, a partial eclipse will be followed by a total eclipse starting at about 3:12 p.m., according to Eclipse2024.org. The length of the total eclipse will depend how close you are to the centre of the path of totality, which on April 8 will skirt the southern edge of Lake Erie and southeastern corner of Lake Ontario.

The northern edge of the umbra — the shadow of the total eclipse — will slide across a narrow band of southern Ontario, barely missing Toronto, and then move on to Montreal, arriving for a brief total eclipse around 3:26 p.m. EDT.

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After transiting northern Maine, the umbra will enter central New Brunswick just after 4:30 p.m. ADT. About three minutes later, the sky will noticeably darken over western Prince Edward Island.

After clipping the northern tip of Cape Breton, the umbra will head to southwestern corner of Newfoundland, making landfall at 5:09 p.m. local time. It will leave the island’s northeast coast around 5:16 p.m. and sail into the darkening North Atlantic.

At most, the eclipse will last four minutes 28 seconds at the centre of the path of total darkness over northern Mexico. As the shadow moves eastward, it will pick up speed. As a result, the duration of totality in the centre of the path will decrease from a maximum of three minutes 38 seconds on the Canadian side of Lake Erie to as little as two minutes 54 seconds in northeastern Newfoundland, according to Eclipse2024.org.

The duration drops off the farther you stray from the path’s centre line.

Eye damage can result if you look directly at the sun, even during a partial eclipse. Protect your eyes with certified eclipse glasses, which can be purchased online. And make sure they are not scratched or torn.

National Post, with additional reporting from The Canadian Press

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