Hill Country is bracing for a celestial spectacle that's projected to draw in a massive crowd. As April 8 looms closer, thousands of star gazers and eclipse chasers are expected to descend upon the area to witness a total solar eclipse. Local officials are not taking the event lightly, having spent years planning for the influx of visitors. Kerrville Convention and Visitor's Bureau's Leslie Jones highlighted the extended discussions about the event, telling KSAT, "They've been having these conversations since 2017 because it was announced that we would be in totality for the next one."

With the deluge of visitors, concerns primarily center around traffic snarls and resource shortages. Kerr and Kendall counties have preemptively signed disaster declarations in anticipation of such stresses. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly's statement, obtained by KSAT, did not mince words: "We expect that kind of visiting traffic here to cause extreme traffic congestion on our roadways, place an enormous strain on our first responders and hospital systems, drain our food and fuel supplies and strain our city and county infrastructure to, quite possibly, over capacity."

In the City of Boerne, officials are working across the board to prepare for the event. "Traffic is definitely the biggest thing... TXDOT, DPS, FBI, local state, county officials, all across the board... we’ve been meeting with everybody just to make sure we’re all on the same page," Chris Shadrock, communications manager with the City of Boerne, divulged during an interview with KSAT. Police Chief Chris McCall of Kerrville echoed the sentiment, stating they are coordinating with the Texas Department of Transportation to mitigate traffic concerns.

To ensure residents won't be left high and dry, the City of Llano has advised locals to start prepping. In a Facebook post as part of the Mayor's Minutes, citizens were instructed to "hunker" down and stock up on essentials. "In a nutshell, have two weeks worth of groceries purchased in advance by April 1. Same thing is true for vehicular fuel, prescriptions refilled, errands run and any other supplies you may need purchased a week before the coming eclipse," emphasized the post, as reported by KXAN. The guidance aims to arm the community against the anticipated pandemonium.

While Bexar County has not gone so far as to declare an impending disaster, emergency managers are watching the situation closely. Michael Morlan, deputy chief with the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management, spoke with KSAT, affirming, "At this time, we do not foresee Bexar County submitting a disaster declaration. However, we will continue to assess the situation as it progresses to ensure the safety of our citizens and the needs of our response partners, including assisting surrounding communities upon request."

As Hill Country gears up for the solar eclipse, the Texas Department of Transportation hasn't missed a beat in offering safety advice for those planning to take to the roads. Tips include expecting heavy traffic, keeping alert for distracted pedestrians, and maintaining headlights on during daytime hours. Officials also remind drivers not to don eclipse glasses behind the wheel and to view the eclipse only when parked safely away from traffic. As Shadrock told KSAT, "If you are prepared ahead, you can enjoy this day. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event!"