Disaster Declaration issued by Kerr County judge regarding upcoming solar eclipse

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly has issued a declaration of disaster, effective Monday, March 4, citing the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8 and its anticipated impact on local resources anticipated by an influx of visitors.  Kerr County sits directly in the path of totality of the eclipse.  The county’s population of 53,000 is expected to double or triple in population over the eclipse weekend and through the event that Monday, according to county officials.

Kelly states that he is issuing this declaration in the interest of the safety of area residents because the county is expecting extreme traffic congestion on roadways, which may place a much larger strain on first responders, hospitals, and food and fuel supplies.  “Also, in the week preceding the event, I would encourage you to make sure your vehicles are tanked up, that you have sufficient grocery supplies, that your prescriptions are filled, and that you are stocked up on provisions for any animals in your care over the duration of the eclipse weekend,” said Kelly.

Kelly notified Texas Governor Greg Abbott of his intent to issue the declaration in a letter dated February 23.  The Declaration of Disaster for Kerr County, Texas, went into effect Monday, March 4, and will continue automatically for 7 days.  It is scheduled to go before the Kerr County Commissioners’ Court in its regular session on Monday, March 11, for extension.  If approved, it will remain in effect until terminated by the county judge at some point after April 8.

“The declaration is a necessary step required by the Texas Department of Emergency Management so that we can make requests for state assistance and state resources, and have those in place, if approved, in advance of the eclipse,” said Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas.

For more information about the eclipse, visit https://www.kerrvilletexascvb.com/kerrvilletxeclipse.