April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse Survival Tips
North America’s second total solar eclipse in seven years occurs on April 8th, 2024. Many people are chattering about what could occur when the eclipse arrives. According to Space.com, one such phenomenon that might be visible is a coronal mass ejection (CME). You don’t need to believe in a major SHTF catastrophe to understand the importance of being ready.
Table of Contents
- Food and Water Supplies Will Become Scarce
- Stock Up on Gas Unless You Want to Get Stuck
- Emergency Services May Get Overwhelmed
- Travel Becomes More Difficult on Main Roads
- You Want to Have Cash on Hand at All Times
- Communication Might Go Out Temporarily
Skywatchers in Mexico will be the first to see the eclipse on the mainland. From there, the show will slide north, entering the United States through Texas, then proceeding northeast before concluding for most people off the coast of Canada.
The moon’s shadow will need 100 minutes to traverse North America, meaning a Coronal Mass Ejection could occur just prior and be seen by everyone with a clear sky view. CMEs can occur during a total eclipse. This was captured on December 14, 2020, during the “Great Patagonian Eclipse” in Chile. It happened when the sun was nearing its solar minimum.
Some people are looking back at 2017, scratching their heads, not quite grasping that there was a small hiccup that, although not catastrophic, still caused a fair share of headaches in several significant ways. These complications can be quite a bother, and it’s wise to brace yourself for them just like you’d tackle a significant survival situation.
The naysayers are buzzing with chatter about potential disasters, ranging from massive earthquakes to solar EMPs and beyond. Even the press and official bodies are encouraging folks to prepare. So, it’s not about believing in an apocalypse but simply good judgment to anticipate large viewing gatherings, which could lead to a rush on resources and cause issues that could swamp communities.
People are jetting in from every corner of the globe to spots within the eclipse’s path, causing a surge in demand for local services and resources. If the eclipse is slated for Monday the 8th, you should be prepared by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest.
Don’t wait until everyone flies in from elsewhere over the weekend because then supplies will start dwindling, and you’ll be left in a lurch. We’ll also discuss issues expected to take place during the eclipse and soon after so that you can prepare. You know – prepare like a typical disaster.
Many school districts are closing or reverting to online remote learning because of the issues experienced in 2017. This is just to protect the schoolchildren and their parents from any complications.
Many cities and towns are declaring a state of disaster ahead of the event just so they can get the supplies and assistance they predict they’ll need from police forces, emergency services, fuel, food, and more.
Food and Water Supplies Will Become Scarce
As more people flood into the community, grocery store shelves will become thin and bare. This is akin to what happens when a major weather event unfolds. So you’ll want to have your necessary meal supplies for at least a week’s worth of food beforehand.
Keep in mind that some places – from small towns to big cities – see an influx of tens of thousands if not over a million, people flocking to that location. Stores don’t usually prepare for that, so supplies simply run out.
Don’t expect restaurants to rescue you, either. Even during the pandemic, fast-food and sit-down restaurants had trouble keeping food in stock. You’ll find that they run out, just like grocery stores.
What kind of food should you stock up on? Some will advise you to have specific survival foods, but for a short-term event, just get your favorite family foods that you normally eat.
If you worry about the grid going down due to a system overloaded with demand, you might consider foods you can easily cook off the grid on the grill, in a solar cooker, etc.
You may want to have a small generator on hand to help you with specific electricity issues. Like if you want to ensure your fridge keeps running or that you can charge something quickly.
There is even some speculation that the water treatment plants may lose power, which would affect water supplies. It’s a good idea to ensure you have at least one gallon per person daily so that if this is an issue, you won’t even have to think about it.
Stock Up on Gas Unless You Want to Get Stuck
When too many people suddenly descend on a location, gas runs out quickly. You then start hearing about low gas supplies, and suddenly, there’s a run on all gas – making sure everybody has a problem on their hands.
Hopefully, you’ll get to be home and not worry about it anyway. But if you have to go to work, school, or elsewhere on Monday (or the days shortly before and after), you don’t want to be empty and not have access to gas.
If you plan to use your generator, lawn mower, or other fuel-consuming equipment during that time, you may want to get extra fuel. You should top off your tank days before and keep it full whenever possible.
If you drive an electric vehicle, be sure it is fully charged ahead of time. You may see a strain on the grid, causing it to go down, and stranding you in the process. When a city or town swells to double or triple its size instantly, it can be problematic for electric needs.
Emergency Services May Get Overwhelmed
Emergency services were overwhelmed in 2017 due to the sudden population spike in these areas. You want to make sure you take every precaution to protect your family from medical problems.
If the traffic is bad, you may have trouble getting to a medical facility or even having EMS get to you if they can’t get through the jams. So make sure you have your prescriptions on hand ahead of time so you don’t have to try to make it to the doctor, hospital, or even a pharmacy at the last minute.
Your family will benefit from a first aid kit (and knowing how to use it). Don’t just get one for your home, either. Have one in your place of work or backpack at school and also in your car.
Ensure you’re well prepared for other emergencies, too—such as fire. Have fire extinguishers in your home, fire blankets, and other precautions in case firetrucks can’t arrive quickly.
Travel Becomes More Difficult on Main Roads
Congestion is a focal point of problems that are being discussed. In the 2017 eclipse, highways were jammed as people traveled to areas where they thought they could get the best view.
Your GPS system may not work, so you can’t rely on it to help you navigate the area. You’ll want to print off or purchase a local map ahead of time or print driving directions if you need to go somewhere.
You might not be able to zip around town as quickly as you normally do. In this situation, the streets will be clogged, so you need to give yourself ample time to travel even short distances.
You also want to have a compass and know how to use it. It’s also a good idea to teach your teen drivers what to do in this situation. Many of them are reliant on Waze and other GPS systems to help them get around.
It’s not just the roads, either. If you’re planning on traveling by boat or plane, expect congestion around the path of the eclipse there, too. Some towns saw many additional flights landing and waterways clogged with people watching it from the water.
Whenever there is more traffic, you can expect more injuries, crashes, and problems on the roads. So, this level of emergency demand will also strain the system.
Some people try to watch the eclipse while driving, so you must look out for those individuals and drive defensively. You also have to be aware of people pulling off on the side of the highway to stop and stare, so watch for those hazards.
You Want to Have Cash on Hand at All Times
This is another issue where electricity demands might be a problem for consumers. You may end up like a storm situation, where the grid goes down temporarily, and you are stuck having to pay cash for what you need.
Ideally, you’ll have everything you need and not have to venture out during, shortly before, or after the eclipse. But sometimes, you forget something and have to make a quick run to the store.
If this happens and you only have your debit or credit card, you won’t be able to buy it without cash if the machines aren’t working due to no electricity. Have small bills because you don’t know how much extra cash the store will have.
Communication Might Go Out Temporarily
Keep your phone charged ahead of time. If the grid does go down due to demand, just as it might during a harsh winter or summer, you want to have a backup phone charger fully charged so that you can continue communicating with others.
But keep in mind that sometimes, as we saw in NYC during 9/11, cell phone towers can get overwhelmed by major demand, so that might not even be something you can turn to.
You may want to warn your family about the possibility of jammed signals and have a plan to gather at a certain location or communicate via email if possible. Also, write down phone numbers and have them on hand.
You may also want to have a landline installed if you still don’t have one. Landlines will continue working even if the smart phone towers are out for a short time. Of course, the other person you’re calling would need one, too, if their tower was overwhelmed.
The total solar eclipse is considered a once-in-a-lifetime event. You should welcome and enjoy it fully, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for some minor and major inconveniences.
You don’t want to have what should be a fascinating experience cause problems for you and your family. Instead, some simple preparations can make this a problem-free experience that allows you to relax and get through anything that may occur.
You might put together a solar eclipse survival bag that includes a backup phone charger, solar eclipse glasses, some cash in small bills, a water bottle, and maps of where you might be traveling.
Where will you be on April 8, 2024? Will you be watching the eclipse? Are you in the eclipse’s path? Sadly, I’m not. It looks like a big party in Fredricksburg, TX! Leave a comment below on your eclipse questions or adventures.
