Ready or not, here comes the biggest solar eclipse of your lifetime!
Yesterday, the City of Rexburg, Madison Eclipse Committee, and the Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce held a meeting at the Romance Theater to discuss the possible impact the upcoming historic solar eclipse will have on businesses and the community this August.
The Madison Eclipse Committee wanted to emphasize the fact that the number of people who will be visiting the area during the week of the solar eclipse is unpredictable. Many have estimated upwards of 500,000 people will be traveling to the area to witness the phenomenon and the City is anticipating 50,000 to 80,000 people in Rexburg alone.
Business owners were encouraged to open their doors to the public on Sunday’s to welcome and accommodate the mass amount of visitors during the eclipse. In addition, the City of Rexburg will allow members of the community to rent their homes and apartments through AirBnb the week prior to and after the eclipse. Land owners intending on charging campers to use their property were urged to register through rexburgeclipse.com.
The City of Rexburg announced it will be hosting the Teton Storytelling and Arts Festival two days before the eclipse on August 19th. Brigham Young University-Idaho will also have planetarium shows, activities for children, and a star observing party leading up to the event.
Cell phone coverage is a concern and the City has been in contact with major cell phone providers on maintaining satisfactory service during the weeks of the eclipse. The Walmart and Fat Cats parking lots were a topic of discussion in the meeting. It will be left up to business owners to decide how they would like to manage their parking lots during the eclipse.
A top priority for local officials is the safety of the public during the eclipse. The Rexburg Police Department and Madison Fire Department will be policing the streets, responding to dehydration and first aid, and EMS will be transporting in and out of Madison county.
The Madison Eclipse Committee plans on having another meeting in the near future. The exact date and time is TBA. For more information about the eclipse and instant updates on the solar eclipse follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
What are your thoughts on the eclipse? Comment your concerns and questions below!