Total Solar Eclipse 8.21.17

Eclipse Facts:

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse. This path, where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun's tenuous atmosphere - the corona - can be seen, will stretch from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun's disk.

Who Can See It?

Lots of people! Everyone in the contiguous United States, in fact, everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse, while the thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 states.
What Is It? This celestial event is a solar eclipse in which the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to about three hours, from beginning to end, as viewed from a given location. For this eclipse, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds. The last time the contiguous U.S. saw a total eclipse was in 1979.

How Can You See It?

You never want to look directly at the sun without appropriate protection except during totality. That could severely hurt your eyes. However, there are many ways to safely view an eclipse of the sun including direct viewing – which requires some type of filtering device and indirect viewing where you project an image of the sun onto a screen. Both methods should produce clear images of the partial phase of an eclipse. Click here for eclipse viewing techniques and safety.
Source: NASA https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/

To see the eclipse path, view NASA’s video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX7AxZhPrqU.

A message from Emergency Management:

If you were to stay in one place all your life, the chances of seeing a total solar eclipse would be quite slim. This fact is one aspect of why August 21st, 2017, will be a very special day in the history of Polk County. First contact will happen on the coast and then here in our county. The eclipse chasers are coming and they want to be the first people to experience totality in the continental U.S.

As residents, we are fortunate to know why visitors from all walks of life are drawn to our beautiful community, especially in the summer. Polk County is a spectacular place. In all probability, if the weather cooperates, we will all be in for a special treat when sun’s shadow crosses our state.

Increased tourism is part of our seasonal experience. It is our opportunity every year to experience a much needed boost in the economy. Locals are well aware that during peak summer months, going to our favorite restaurants, wineries; and traveling throughout our county simply takes more time.

We encourage everyone to take a few moments to review the various Eclipse Information Guides. You will discover best practices that should be familiar. These tips for health and safety, we hope, have become more commonplace in our dialogue with friends and family. The principles that apply to emergency preparation are much the same as they apply to mass gatherings and other natural hazards.

The eclipse represents both increased opportunity and challenges. As thousands of additional individuals and families arrive for a once in a lifetime celestial event, we encourage residents & visitors alike to be ready; to be patient; to be safe; and most of all, to enjoy this unique experience here in the valley!

During the days leading up to and during the eclipse event, we encourage you to read our local newspapers and listen to our local public radio stations as they, too, are committed to bringing you preparedness information and current information during the eclipse event.

Respectfully submitted,
Polk County Emergency Management, and
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Emergency Management

Further Questions?

Full Detail Report on the Solar Eclipse

Please see the situation specific media monitoring report relating to the Oregon Eclipse from 7/18/2017- 7/31/2017 or subscribe to the latest report at Eclipse Media Monitoring distribution