The City of Boerne and several area partners met Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, for a safety planning meeting ahead of two solar eclipses set to occur in the Hill Country over the next two years.
Tuesday’s meeting, held at the Boerne Fire Department, is the third of what will be several meetings ahead of an annular eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, and a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. While the annular eclipse is expected to bring in large numbers of visitors, the total eclipse will be the biggest draw.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to come to Boerne and the Hill Country to witness these natural phenomenon as we will be in the path of both eclipses. The City of Boerne, joined by our community partners, has begun planning and preparation to ensure residents and visitors alike can safely enjoy the eclipses.
“The population of Boerne and Kendall County could easily double the weekend of the total solar eclipse,” Boerne Fire Marshal Robert Lee said. “Community preparedness and the safety of our residents are paramount. We are confident that by working collaboratively we will be ready.”
Led by Lee, Tuesday’s meeting was attended by City of Boerne staff from Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Visit Boerne, and Communications. Also in attendance were officials from Kendall County, TxDOT, H-E-B, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Bandera Electric, Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce, local hospitals, and local businesses.
Several work groups have been established to coordinate preparation efforts, including:
- Traffic Planning and Law Enforcement – Led by Lt. James Schmidt with the Boerne Police Department
- Parks – Led by Donnie Bergmann with Boerne Parks and Recreation
- Radio and Cellular Communications – Led by Jeff Fincke with Kendall County
- EMS Readiness – Led by Brian Webb with Kendall County
- Fire Response Readiness – Led by Robert Lee with the Boerne Fire Marshal’s Office
- Logistics – Led by Chief Steve Perez with the Boerne Police Department
Additional information will be shared with the public in the months leading up to the events as decisions are finalized for eclipse viewing areas, traffic management, land use/camping for visitors, and more.
The City of Boerne has set up a webpage for eclipse information. Visit BoerneEclipse.com to stay up to date on preparations and learn more about the eclipses.
The next eclipse planning meeting is scheduled for March 21, 2023.