Emergency Management directors from across the state host table top drill and discussion focused on eclipse response during the KYEM conference in July at Kentucky Dam Village in Gilbertsville. About 200 EM directors, staff and rescue personnel participated in the effort.
No one really knows what to expect when the sun goes dark in 11 days, but local law enforcement and emergency management crews are preparing for anything and everything.
Marshall County Emergency Management Director Curt Curtner said regional agencies had been working together actively for about the past nine months to establish response plans and lines of communication in anticipation of the estimated 500,000 visitors possible to western Kentucky. Emergency Support Functions (ESF), such as rescue squad, fire departments, law enforcement, EMS services and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet had collaborated on training and preparation seminars and identifying areas of greatest need. Kentucky Emergency Management in July held its statewide conference for directors and staff at Kentucky Dam Village; Curtner said eclipse response was among topics of discussion.
“We did a lot of table tops during that … meeting,” Curtner said. “We just worked through issues we thought that we would have, got input from different areas at how to overcome them if we encounter them. It was a very valuable meeting. KYEM … the state, they’re on board. They’re sending support staff to wherever it may be needed during that time. They’re looking at this as a big event for the state of Kentucky.”
In addition, local EM and rescue squad staff recently attended meetings in McCracken County on resources available during eclipse week; personnel also met with U.S. Coast Guard Paducah Marine Unit to receive updates on waterway safety during the event. Curtner said county agencies, in particular, had focused much of their efforts on Kentucky Lake.
“We’ve got plenty of assets that are going to be on the water,” Curtner said. “Mutual counties are pooling in, coming in and backing each other up, (plus) Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife; so the water is pretty well going to be covered. Our biggest concern out there is going to be the main channel (and barge traffic, because they’re not going to shut down that day. It’s a work day for them.”
It’s a concern Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Byars shared. Byars said commercial barge traffic would slow somewhat on the day of the eclipse, but not in the weekend prior to the event.
“A 12-barge tug takes approximately a mile to stop,” he said. “It’s about like a train. If they stop abruptly and reverse engines, they tear all the shackles apart and now you’ve got free-floating barges all over the river. So, they can’t stop quickly.”
It could be a medicine for disaster if not handled properly, Byars said, which is why the department boat will also have a presence on the water. MCSD filed a request with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for its marine unit to assist locally, as well. Henderson Police Department had also committed its marine patrol to the area, Byars said, in addition to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and Coast Guard units already on the lake.
“Law enforcement will be very prevalent on the water,” Byars said. “That is a huge, huge concern for me, and for our tourists that are here – not only the eclipse seekers – but there will still be tourists here, as well. There are going to be a lot of inexperienced boaters here on the water, I’m afraid.”
In addition to bolstered forces on the water, Byars said deputies would be out in force throughout the county. The department – about 21 deputies strong, not including court security – would have “all hands on deck” for response that weekend. Deputies will work staggered 12-hour shifts to keep between eight and nine county officers available per shift during the weekend, beginning 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18 through about 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21 after the eclipse had concluded.
“I’m actually going to shut down the detective division and put them into patrol,” Byars said. “Of course we’ll still do the investigations and stuff, but we will do active patrols with everybody we have, with the exception of court security because they’re limited on their jurisdiction.”
Curtner said agencies had considered the effect increased traffic would have on response times in the county and officials had established plans to “pre-stage” and distribute resources accordingly to potentially help cut down on incidents of delay.
Calvert City Police Chief David Elliott said he too planned to distribute his resources evenly. Elliott said he does not anticipate as much traffic to flow in through Calvert City limits as out toward Kentucky Dam and in the county, however he did intend to post extra officers during the weekend and day of the eclipse. The chief said the department had prepared for the eclipse much like it would for a busy Ameribration July 4 celebration.
“I think they’re kind of focusing most of the activities at the Dam, so other than maybe just somebody having a social thing in Calvert – that’s what I tell people: We have practice on this every year Fourth of July,” Elliott said. “We cram about 5 – 6,000 people into the city, so we’re kind of used to the traffic for the once a year festivities that we have. … Through the years we’ve had a good, strategic plan as far as getting traffic flow out so that nobody’s getting irritable, and knock on wood we haven’t had any accidents through the years. So hopefully … most of the people will concentrate (toward the dam).”
Elliott said he had concerns for traffic near Interstate 24, particularly where construction efforts had been focused on Exit 27. The passage, he said, was often prone to driver confusion and congestion. The potential influx of visitors could compound the issue.
“That’s going to really be a complex problem for people out of town that’s coming in,” Elliott said. “And then if you get one or two people backed up, then that’s going to really cause a problem. … Even right now on 62, making a left onto the Parkway, with traffic being diverted from the westbound ramp down to get on westbound, it doesn’t take long: two or three semis and it’s already backed up. And then you’ll have cars – because you’ve got that one lane that’s completely backed up – and the people are trying to swerve over to get around. And the potential of going left, you can’t see around those semis. … But I feel like with the backups and people coming, that’s going to be an issue.”
Benton Police Department Interim Chief Jeromy Hicks said he, too, felt officers were prepared to meet additional demands anticipated from the event. However, like Elliott, he didn’t expect as many visitors to come into Benton city limits as in other areas. Hicks said officers would be placed strategically, and extra patrols would be added and all officers would be on standby. On eclipse day, all officers will be on duty.
“We’ll have some overflow from people at Walmart and stuff like that, just because we’re the closest town to the lake,” Hicks said. “But I don’t think we’re going to have a whole lot in town, because we don’t have motels or a whole lot of restaurants. We’ll have a few extra collisions and things like that.”
Both Calvert City and Benton PD staff seven officers. While more might be helpful, the additional presence of Kentucky State Police about in the area could help alleviate the burden. Byars said KSP intended to staff as many additional troopers as it could throughout the region.
Law enforcement personnel aren’t the only ones who should be concerned about the volume of additional traffic could bring, though. Officials urged locals to exercise caution during the weekend, as well, and take extra precautions prior to the event. Curtner said residents should run any errands early if possible to avoid unnecessary travel and stock up on needed items at home in advance, as visitors would likely deplete store supplies. Residents should also remember to fill gas tanks prior to eclipse seekers’ arrival, he said.
“Treat it like it was the ice storm,” Byars said. “Have your vehicles fueled up, have your groceries on hand – because when all these people come in they’re going to hit the stores and they’re going to wipe everything out. Because of the amount of traffic that’s going to be on the road, the suppliers may not be able to get here to replenish. If you’re going to watch the eclipse, get to that venue early, because the roads are going to be jam packed.”
Byars also cautioned residents to avoid travel along the interstates if possible, and if local should decide to leave their homes for any reason, they should take extra care to keep cars and doors locked and valuables put away to avoid becoming victims of opportunistic crimes.
Elliott advised residents to keep an eye out for one another, as well, and always call law enforcement if they see something amiss or suspect potentially criminal activity.
“Most of our citizens here in Calvert – and that’s one of the advantages, I believe, of having a small population like this, and we are an older group of people that live here – they are very good about calling if something seems out of the ordinary,” Elliott said. “And we highly encourage that … if something seemed out of the ordinary, or somebody was driving through the neighborhood and they didn’t recognize the vehicle, call. Somebody may have gotten lost or off the beaten path, which could be a possibility depending on where they’re at. I feel like a lot of our success comes from the citizens in Calvert City, because of the involvement that they have for their community. If you don’t have … the backing of the citizens of your community, you’ve got nothing. … Continue to let us know, because we can’t be everywhere, but the community involvement that we have I think that it’s a good thing that people call and let us know. It’s like having a bunch of officers all through the city … it has helped us out.”
Hicks also said residents should be mindful of additional foot traffic, particularly in city limits. The potential for additional visitors coupled with social and community events surrounding the eclipse could lead to far more pedestrians than typically seen. Drivers should slow down and exercise caution, he said. On the day of the eclipse, he said some areas would be closed near Dogtown Road and Ky. 1442 to accommodate the Beat the Eclipse 5K run as part of the Benton Solar Celebration, and urged locals to prepare for alternate routes.
In addition, Hicks said residents should keep the same practices that they typically would when going out of town during a big event.
“Let your neighbors know if you’re going to be out of town or if you’re going to go somewhere to watch the eclipse or something like that,” Hicks said. “Lock your doors, leave a light on. The same basic stuff we tell anybody when they’re going to leave town. … Watch for pedestrians, there’s going to be people moving around the area. I know they’re using overflow parking at the soccer fields, and of course at the city park … so just be cautious of people walking up and down the road.”
Personal safety is also a must. Marshall County Judge-Executive Kevin Neal, who intends to watch the event with his family at home, said he had confidence that responding agencies in the county were on top of efforts to keep the overall community safe. However, locals should remember to be careful even in their own homes. In particular, he said residents should be certain they have proper eyewear for viewing if they intend to watch the eclipse.
“The biggest thing – what I’m hearing – is what it can do to your eyes,” Neal said. “… I know my kids, I’m going to make sure they’re wearing glasses, just in case. It’s going to be interesting. My daughter, we’ve got chickens, and we want to see if they go to roost, so we’re going to watch them and see what they do.”
Ultimately, it’s an unknown, though. Inclement weather, cloud cover or any number of factors could sway crowds elsewhere. Regardless, Curtner said crews were set handle it.
“I’m pretty confident that most of our areas are ready to meet this head on,” Curtner said. “It’s an unknown. I tell them it’s just like with the quilt show, or the Kentucky Derby or Tater Day in Benton, you know: We prepare for it the best we can, and when it comes we’ll be ready.”