WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Counties in central Texas have ramped up emergency resources in preparation for the thousands of tourists who will flock to the area for the April 8 solar eclipse.
Travis County and several counties in the Hill Country issued disaster declarations weeks before the eclipse.
KXAN spoke with some of those judges. Travis County Judge Andy Brown said the measure was an attempt to ease the movement of emergency vehicles on the day of the eclipse.
Williamson County has not issued a disaster declaration for the eclipse.
Chantel Brannon, interim director of the Office of Emergency Management, said a draft declaration has been prepared and is on standby to be signed if needed.
He said additional Williamson County sheriff's deputies will be deployed starting Sunday to monitor traffic in the area.
“Please plan ahead. There should be some delays on Interstate 35 and service roads here in Williamson County,” Brannon said.
Brannon said Monday that three emergency response units made up of first responders will be dispatched to areas reporting high call volumes.
“We're all excited. We've been preparing for this for over a year,” Brannon said.
Brannon said the county meets regularly with agencies like the National Weather Service and local school districts while planning for the eclipse.
Round Rock ISD Superintendent Dr. Hafed Azaiz said the district is closely monitoring the possibility of eclipse interruptions.
RRISD schools will continue to operate during the eclipse, Azaiz said, adding that there may be bus delays on the day of the eclipse.
“[The buses] After you finish elementary school, you have to come back and go to junior high school, then come back and take the high school entrance exam. The delay may be due to the second and possibly third group of students,” Azaiz said.
