Eclipse
or “apoc-eclipse.”
To
read some reports of preparations underway along ground zero “path of totality”
in Central Oregon the latter may seem more apt.
Given
the impending arrival of a predicted tens of thousands, swelling the regional population with 200,000 or more visitors, many businesses, along with those in transportation, law
enforcement, emergency services and healthcare are readying for what might be
compared to another Y2K, the potential catastrophe that wasn’t.
Groceries
are stocking extra inventory of food and beverages. Gas stations fear fuel
shortages. Law enforcement and emergency services hope the weekend leading to
Aug. 21, and the exodus to follow are peaceful with no major incidents.Transportation officials are nervous there will be gridlock.
And
the region’s leading healthcare provider, the St. Charles system, is bringing
in extra medicine and equipment, including a larger supply of anti-venom for
anyone who may run afoul of a rattler in the weeds and rocks.
With
a persistent heatwave in the 90s and no significant rainfall for most of the
summer local, state and federal fire officials are holding their breath in
hopes there will be no new wildfires. Already the region is bathed in a
brownish-gray haze from local fires as well as smoke drifting from as far away
as British Columbia, Washington and Montana.
As
for where all these visitors may spend their nights, nearly every lodging room
in the region has been booked for months. In some cases it appears old-fashioned
supply-demand-- and maybe a bit of greed-- took hold as room rates skyrocketed
by 500% and more in some cases.
The
situation prompted the state attorney general to reportedly investigate a dozen
or so cases, including several in which earlier published rates were not
honored. One local hotel agreed to refund more than $6,000 to customers.
Even
so, the international online booking company Airbnb is putting an optimistic
twist on the event. In an online offering Airbnb is sposoring a contest asking
entrants to describe why they feel the eclipse is bringing people together. The
winner will get to spend the evening in a temporaty geodesic dome at the luxury
development, Ranch at the Canyons, in the shadow of imposing Smith Rock State
Park. In addition to dinner cooked by a private chef, the winner will hear a noted
astrophysicist discuss the stars and celestial phenomena the evening before,
accompanied by a National Geographic photographer.
But
wait, there’s more!!! The winner will arise in time to catch a private jet
flight across the Cascades and out over the Pacific to be one of the first in
the country to view the eclipse as it migrates onto land.
Maybe
the contest winner will have some advice on togetherness for those who may get
stuck in eclipse traffic, or have been soaked by exorbitant lodging fees. As
for rattlesnake bites, it’s a good guess the victims will not be singing kumbaya.
Then
again, maybe everyone will be in a good mood, having witnessed the only total
eclipse to be visible across an entire swatch of the country in 99 years—unless smoke
from wildfires dulls the experience. Both the National Weather Service and Intellicast were predicting clear skies and temperatues in the upper 80s for the big day.
One possibility offered by residents wanting to avoid the crowds and traffic. Just watch live online or stream the video later. Chances are somewhere in the nationwide path of totality there will be perfect conditions to record it for posterity. No eye-protecting glasses required..
