Solar Eclipse Information for April 8th, 2024
Keep Your Eyes Protected
- Do not look directly at the sun during the eclipse (except during the limited time of totality when the sun is completely covered by the moon—and even then, with caution).
- Sunglasses will NOT protect your eyes.
- If your eyes are exposed to the sun without the appropriate protection, it can cause “eclipse blindness,” which can temporarily or permanently damage your eyes.
- One of the best ways to view a solar eclipse is through a pinhole projector where you look at a projected image made through a pinhole in cardboard paper. Or even easier, grab a colander from the kitchen (not the mesh kind, the one with holes in plastic or metal)!
- Another way to view a solar eclipse without harming your eyes is by using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses from a trusted source. Further information about safe viewing can be found on the American Astronomical Society website.
Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
- Springtime weather can be warm and sunny.
- The sun throughout the day can be very bright, including during the partial phases of a solar eclipse. It can damage your skin, even in cooler temperatures or on a cloudy day.
- To help prevent skin damage, wear a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants if possible when outdoors.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
- Sunscreen should be applied to dry skin at least 15 minutes before going outdoors and again after swimming or perspiring. Get more information about sun safety from the New York State Department of Health.
Be Prepared While on the Road
- Traffic volume is expected to be very high on the day of the eclipse. Plan on staying in one place for the day. If you must be out, allow for plenty of extra travel time.
- Consider using 511NY for current travel conditions. Streets or bridges may be closed and depending on your location you may run into extensive traffic jams. 511NY apps can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices.
- Prepare by bringing water, fuel, medications, and food in your vehicle.
- Do not stop to view the eclipse along the roadway, especially interstates, parkways, and freeways. Choose a safe viewing destination off the road and arrive early to ensure you are ready for the big show!
You May Need Boots and a Jacket
- Springtime weather can be cold, snowy, or have significant rainfall.
- Be prepared with the appropriate clothing/footwear--such as jackets and boots.
- Have alternate plans should the weather present hazards.
- If heading out on the trail to see the eclipse, check trail conditions: the Adirondacks can have snow, icy, and muddy conditions depending on elevation. And carry enough safety gear by checking out the Hike Smart and Winter Hike Smart tips.
Watch Out for Ticks and Mosquitoes
- If you will be camping or outdoors, be aware of ticks, mosquitoes, and plants like poison ivy that can cause skin irritations. Remember the two adages: “Leaves of Three, Leave them Be!” and “Don’t be a Dope and Touch the Hairy Rope.” Even before the leaves are out, the hairy vines of poison ivy will carry the oils that cause skin irritations.
- Cover your skin as completely as possible when in woods or fields. Wear shoes and socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors in a tick habitat.
- Check yourself for ticks during the day and do a thorough check at the end of the day. If you find a tick, use fine-point tweezers to remove it. Learn about Lyme Disease and other diseases carried by ticks from the New York State Department of Health.
- Consider the use of mosquito and tick repellents, which should always be applied according to label directions.
Preventing Wildfires & Enjoying Outdoor Fires Safety
While not common knowledge, wildland fire season in grass and brush in New York can begin in February and last through May. Grass and brush have dried and cured (yellowed) during the winter months along with dry weather patterns in the spring can be just the right combination for a wildfire if there is an ignition source. To minimize the chances of starting a wildfire please remember these things:
Vehicle Safety Tips
- Never park your vehicle in yellow to brown (not green) grass or brush during the spring months. The exhaust pipes from your car can be hot enough to start a fire under your vehicle.
- Make sure your vehicle is in good running condition. Worn brakes can create sparks when stopping.
- When towing a trailer, make sure that the safety chains are attached correctly and not dragging on the ground. Safety chains can be twisted to eliminate extra length. Items like safety chains or mufflers can create sparks when they drag on the ground, starting a wildfire.
Solar Eclipse Safety Resources
- https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/#eye-safety-total
- https://www.iloveny.com/events/eclipse-2024/safety/
- https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html
Preparing for Storms & Weathering Floods and Power Outages
Emergency Readiness
Emergencies disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property. If an emergency occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.
You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area—hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold, flooding, or terrorism.
You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water, and sanitation.
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Click Here for Emegency Preparedness for Older Adults
Things You Can do Right Now to be Safer
- Check and change the batteries in your smoke alarms yearly and replace all alarms that are more than 10 years old.
- Make sure you know where your local fire department, police station, and hospital are and post a list of emergency phone numbers posted near all the telephones in your home.
- Organize and practice a family fire drill -- make sure your children know what your smoke detector sounds like and what to do if it goes off when they are sleeping.
- Locate the utility mains for your home and be sure you know how to turn them off manually: gas, electricity, and water.
- Create an emergency plan for your household, including your pets. Decide where your family will meet if a disaster does happen:
1) right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire and 2) outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home -- ask an out of town friend to be your "family contact" to relay messages. - Prepare a disaster supply kit, complete with flashlights, batteries, blankets, and an emergency supply of water and food (and pet food!).
- Check the expiration dates of all over-the-counter medications -- discard all that are expired and replace any that are routinely needed.
- Visit with your neighbors and discuss how you would handle a disaster in your area. Talk to neighbors with special needs and help them become safer too!
Why Prepare?
Every citizen in this country is part of a national emergency management system that is all about protection–protecting people and property from all types of hazards.
Think of the national emergency management system as a pyramid with you, the citizen, forming the base of the structure. At this level, you have a responsibility to protect yourself and your family by knowing what to do before, during, and after an event. Some examples of what you can do follow:
Before:
- Know the risks and danger signs.
- Purchase insurance, including flood insurance, which is not part of your homeowner’s policy.
- Develop plans for what to do.
- Assemble a disaster supplies kit.
- Volunteer to help others.
During:
- Put your plan into action.
- Help others.
- Follow the advice and guidance of officials in charge of the event.
After:
- Repair damaged property.
- Take steps to prevent or reduce future loss.
For Information on Emergency Preparedness
Contact the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at (315) 386-2325.
