TEXARKANA — Police are preparing for an influx of visitors for the solar eclipse but do not expect major issues.
Personnel resources are limited but extra officers will be working patrol in uniform, said Shawn Vaughn, public information officer for Texarkana Texas Police Department.
“We don’t anticipate a lot of problems. We feel the biggest problem might be traffic issues, but there are a lot of unknowns. A lot of it will be weather driven,” Vaughn said.
The population of the Twin Cities is 65,084 — with 35,778 on the Texas side and 29,306 on the Arkansas side, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Great American Eclipse website estimates there could be anywhere between 20,000 to 80,000 visitors to the area.
Vaughn said a potential challenge is that people will not be gathering in a single location, as is the case with other festivals and events.
“During those events, we can put resources in specific places, but this is not just any one place. Some people will be downtown, some will be in Spring Lake Park,” he said.
Vaughn said police do not anticipate problems with 911. The bigger issue would be if the cell system gets overloaded.
Vaughn encourages people to find a safe place to watch the eclipse. Officers also ask that motorists do not stop vehicles on the street or highway or roadway shoulders to watch the event.
Public Information Officer Kristin Schultz said Texarkana Arkansas Police Department will have supplemental staffing the day of the eclipse. The department expects an increase in 911 calls.
“Our officers will prioritize and handle calls as usual. We urge the community to utilize our non-emergency line to report those crimes that are not true emergency situations,” Schultz said.
Vaughn urges residents and tourists alike to be patient with each other and with police.
“The key is being patient. It’s going to take longer to get places. There are going to be longer lines in places. It might be chaotic for a couple of days. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we encourage people to take advantage of this. Just be patient and understanding and plan ahead.
“Think of it as every road is going to be like Richmond Road,” he said.