From the desk of Patrick A. Rhode, Chief of Police
ECLIPSE TIPS- 2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
The moment we have all been waiting for is almost upon us. The total eclipse of the Sun happens locally on Monday, April 8, 2024. The Moon will appear to touch the edge of the Sun at 1:59 pm, beginning the eclipse. Totality will happen just seconds before 3:13 pm. Totality will last almost four minutes - depending on your location in the path - when the Moon will totally eclipse the sun, causing complete darkness in the middle of the afternoon, creating a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will last until 4:29 pm. This event promises us nearly four minutes of darkness in the middle of the afternoon as the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun. During the eclipse, the sky will get dark as if it were dawn or dusk. Even if skies are cloudy, you will still notice a darkening of the sky. Nocturnal wildlife may awaken, while non-nocturnal wildlife may think it’s time for bed.
The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse brings great excitement to northeast Ohio and, of course, our community. It is expected that many people will descend upon our region to witness this once-in-lifetime event. The men and women of the Lyndhurst Police Department hope that everyone has an exceptional eclipse experience. With that, we provide the following tips to make sure that happens:
Travel & Parking Do's and Dont's
Pre-plan your route. Know your destination in advance and where you plan to safely park to view the eclipse.
Do not pull off the side of a roadway to view the eclipse, as it could impede traffic and is unsafe.
Do not park on privately owned land unless arrangements have been made with the owner of the property.
Do be patient when searching for a place to park.
In the event your GPS does not work, keeping a paper travel map in your preparedness kit is smart.
Keep your gas tank topped off.
If it is a rainy week prior to the eclipse date, be mindful of parking in grassy areas such as fields. The ground may be soft, and your vehicle may get “stuck in the mud.”
Ohio's Move Over Law requires motorists to cautiously shift over one lane – or slow down if changing lanes is not possible – when passing any vehicle with flashing lights on the side of a road.
Do not call 9-1-1 for traffic jams unless it is a life-safety emergency.
Family Safety
Have a family communication plan when attending any large gathering, to ensure you know
where to meet up if you get separated from friends or family. Make sure children have
identification with your contact information with them in case you are separated.
Cellular Service
Cell phone providers have worked to ensure robust network efficiency during this event.
However, there may be times during the event that cell service will be disrupted due to high
volume of usage. Texting uses less bandwidth than a voice call.