INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has signed a emergency response order ahead of April's upcoming total solar eclipse.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the Hoosier state to catch a glimpse of the once-in-a-lifetime event on April 8. The next total solar eclipse in the United States won't be until 2044, so it's easy to understand why so many people plan to travel.
The path of totality extends from Texas to Maine and cuts straight through southern Indiana.
State and local agencies have been preparing for the solar eclipse since last year.
Holcomb's executive order, signed Wednesday, will provide additional support the anticipated needs of Indiana's emergency response, transportation, communication and critical infrastructure systems due to the anticipated number of visitors.
The order allows Indiana to utilize resources from other states who are members of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).
According to the governor's office, once a governor issues an order, EMAC members "can and will share equipment and communications systems to help support state resources" to ensure residents' safety, care and welfare in the event of an emergency during the event.
The executive order declaring a statewide disaster emergency expires at 11:59 p.m. on April 9, 2024.
In case of an emergency, the governor's office urges residents to call or text 911.
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