by About 31 million people across the United States live within the path of totality, with millions more heading there before April 8
MARCO DE SWART/ANP/AFP via Getty
The country is completely on the edge of its seat at the total solar eclipse on April 8.
Will the weather cooperate? How will small towns cope with the influx of visitors? And where can one get reliable eyewear to see it?
With so many questions, the historic moments are likely to be memorable, according to a Texas county official, two former NASA astronauts, and a Memphis, Tenn., man who has made nearly 75 million glasses for Monday’s eclipse.
While about 31 million people across the United States live within the full path — including those in Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo — millions more who are not in those locations are preparing this week to travel for the big day.
Related: Keeping Dogs and Cats Safe During an Eclipse: Pet Expert Advice on the Spring Solar Eclipse
All of this means that those who live in small towns and counties, like Bell County in central Texas, are expecting a lot of new friends in their backyard on April 8.
“Traffic congestion is our biggest concern so far,” Bob Reinhard, emergency management coordinator for Bell County, population 400,000, tells PEOPLE. “All of these great arteries [including Interstate 35] the ability to be packed with drivers. Not only the day of the event, but also on the days leading up to Monday the 8th. It will be a huge challenge to keep those traffic lanes moving at some speed.”
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On February 21, Bell County was one of the first in the nation to declare a local state of disaster ahead of the event, with county officials expecting its population to double in the days leading up to the eclipse, putting pressure on its infrastructure. .
Reinhard said with the declaration in place, all private property landowners in unincorporated areas are now required to register with the county if they plan to host events with more than 50 people.
Optics American Paper
John Jerit, CEO of American Paper Optics, at its headquarters in Tennessee
The information will provide “situational awareness” to leaders in the field so they can help stage resources in an emergency.
Another concern is cellular coverage, says Reinhard.
“With so many people in the same area, this will definitely strain our cellular infrastructure using their cell phones for one purpose or another,” he tells PEOPLE.
Related: Fly in the Path of Totality During April’s Total Solar Eclipse on this Delta flight
As government officials prepare for the eclipse, John Jerit, CEO of American Paper Optics, has been working hard for 34 of his company’s 35 years so that people can enjoy the eclipse without straining their eyes.
Jerit’s eclipse glasses are made in America, and ISO certified, meaning the filter and glasses have undergone safety testing, he tells PEOPLE.
“A lot of the glasses that come from overseas and from China, they’re tested in labs that aren’t necessarily qualified to test for that particular product,” Jerit tells PEOPLE. “You have to have the right spectrometry equipment and such and know the standards. So there are just a lot of them popping up. And we’ve seen the last 10 days on Amazon and there’s a lot of counterfeit glasses that come down with our name on them.”
