2024 total eclipse emergency and safety information

UPDATE 9 April 2024 - There were scattered clouds but a great celestial show nonetheless. Thanks to all, especially our emergency system partners, for making it a safe and fun experience for residents and visitors alike. The next total solar eclipse is expected in our region in 2399. 

Images from the 8 April, 2024 total eclipse in Frontenac. 

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As the much-anticipated total eclipse approaches on 8 April 2024, Frontenac County officials are working to ensure that residents and visitors experience this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event safely and memorably. This rare phenomenon will draw significant crowds to Frontenac County and Kingston. While it promises to be a spectacular experience, it also necessitates comprehensive emergency preparedness measures.

The Frontenac County Municipal Emergency Control Group (MECG) met on 21 February to discuss traffic control, health and safety, and communications. Here’s everything you need to know to stay safe and make the most of this extraordinary event:

Before the eclipse:

• Stay informed: Sign up for local alerts and monitor updates from Ontario Provincial Police East Region here, here, and here; Frontenac Paramedics here; Frontenac County here and here; Kingston Fire and Rescue; and Kingston Police here. Information about viewing areas, traffic advisories, and safety tips will be regularly updated.

• Arrange for eclipse glasses or appropriate eye protection: Ensure you have ISO-certified eclipse glasses or solar filters or a pinhole camera to view the eclipse safely. Counterfeit glasses, films, or filters can result in serious eye injury. It is especially dangerous to look at any part of the sun through unprotected magnifying lenses such as binoculars, telescopes, or telephoto lenses. Eclipse glasses and eye protection are selling fast. Although there are some reputable Canadian suppliers, most ISO-certified eclipse wear is imported through the United States. Click here to see the American Astronomical Society safe-suppliers list.

• Yield to emergency vehicles: Make an extra effort to make way for emergency vehicles in the event of heavy traffic.

• Make the right call: Preserve emergency capacity for those who need it most. Call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies.

• Plan your day: Expect higher traffic volumes. Plan your viewing location well in advance. Make sure your vehicle is fully fueled; extra traffic may lead to line-ups and/or sold-out fuel supplies, especially in rural areas.

• Inspect and stock your emergency kit: Ensure your emergency kit is complete and stocked with water, snacks, first aid supplies, and a flashlight. Mobile networks could be overloaded, so carry a physical map and have a plan to communicate with your group if separated.

• Be easy to find: Download What3Words to your mobile device. This free geolocation app will help 911 communications officers and emergency responders to pinpoint your location quickly, even when you're off the beaten path.

During the eclipse:

• View safely: Never look directly at the sun without approved eclipse glasses or films except during the brief total eclipse phase when the sun is completely covered by the moon. Replace your eye protection as soon as the sun begins to reappear.

• Don't drive unless you have to: Plan to be off the road during the eclipse so you can catch the experience. If you must drive, keep your eyes on the road; not on the sky. Ensure your headlights are on for at least a half hour before and after totality. It will get dark.

• Respect nature: If you’re viewing from a natural area, stay on marked trails and avoid disturbing wildlife.

How to safely watch a solar eclipse from the Canadian Space Agency.

After the eclipse:

• Be traffic-patient: Anticipate heavy traffic and delays when leaving viewing areas. Be patient and follow the directions of traffic management personnel.

• Leave no trace: Keep our communities clean by disposing of all waste in designated bins.

• Share responsibly: When sharing your eclipse photos and experiences on social media, use local hashtags to contribute to the community’s collective memory of the event.

About the eclipse: 

A total solar eclipse, when the moon appears to completely cover the disc of the sun, is a very rare event in any given area on the globe. The last total eclipse was seen in the Kingston and South Frontenac areas in 1349; the next one will come in 2399. Let's hope for clear skies. April has an average of about six fully overcast days in our area.

The map shows the path of totality in blue. It's the 185 km-wide area in which the sun will appear to be totally eclipsed by the moon as the moon's relatively tiny shadow crosses North America. The purple area including Kingston, South Frontenac, and Frontenac Islands is the area of totality between approximately 3:24 pm and 3:27 pm on April 8. Precise times will vary slightly depending on viewing location. That's right, totality will last just under three short minutes, give or take a few seconds. During that period it will be dark outside and only the sun's corona may be visible around the edges of the moon.

There will still be a show across our area for those who watch from outside the path of totality. People in large areas, 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers to the north and south of the path of totality, will still see a partial eclipse on April 8. Those viewing the eclipse from North Frontenac and the northern parts of Central Frontenac will not see a total eclipse but will see the sun almost completely eclipsed.