CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. — On April 8, Western New Yorkers will be among the 31 million Americans living in the path of totality for a rare total solar eclipse spanning from Texas to Maine.
Between 1 million and 4 million more people are expected to travel to witness the eclipse, and New York is projected to receive the fourth-most tourists of any state.
Chautauqua County took a step toward preparing for this event Wednesday, as its county legislature passed a $200,000 resolution to amend its budget and invest in EMS equipment for the eclipse.
The county is preparing for an influx in tourists that cold be anywhere between 50,000 and 250,000, based on reports from other communities.
The plan is to use the money to purchase a portable cell tower, message boards, traffic flares, and disaster management software to account for anything out of the ordinary taking place other than the eclipse itself that day.
Legislators voted 13-5 in favor of the resolution Wednesday. There was not much opposition.
However, there was some discussion about where the money would come from, given that the majority of the funds will come from local property taxes. Those in favor argued the benefits in the long run will outweigh those concerns.
“It's my contention that if people come here for the eclipse, that they have a safe and pleasurable experience, I think there's a good chance that they're going to come back in the future,” District 5 legislator Terry Niebel said.
Buffalo is expected to be in complete darkness from 3:18 p.m. to 3:22 p.m. on April 8. Solar eclipses occur only every 18 months but most are only visible over oceans or inaccessible areas.
After April’s event, the next total solar eclipse to be seen from the United States won’t be until Aug. 23, 2044.