Dripping Springs launches eclipse site

DRIPPING SPRINGS — The city of Dripping Springs will have a rare experience with two eclipses over the next nine months: an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14 of this year and a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. To help residents, businesses and visitors prepare, the city has launched a new eclipse website.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the sun’s light in some areas, according to NASA. This only happens occasionally because the moon doesn't orbit in the exact same plane as the sun and Earth do.

Total solar eclipses happen somewhere in the world every 18 months and only happen in the same place approximately every 375 years. Dripping Springs will be in the totality of the April 8, 2024 eclipse for three  minutes, making this a once-in-a-lifetime event.

The city of Dripping Springs is expecting a significant number of visitors to experience the total solar eclipse. Because of this, a community Eclipse Task Force has been meeting monthly to prepare for the big event to ensure that all areas of the city are as prepared as possible.

Lisa Sullivan, the Dripping Springs people and communications director, is co-chairing the Eclipse Task Force with Roman Baligad, the city’s emergency management coordinator.

“We are excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city,” said Sullivan. “Communication and education are keys to making this event a great experience for all, and this newly launched website will help tremendously with that. While the city is hosting the website, it’s really an informational tool to help the entire Eclipse Task Force get critical information out to our residents, businesses and visitors.”

The new website includes:

• Information for residents, businesses and visitors to help them prepare and plan for the excitement with information that will continually be updated

• An event form, so any business can have their eclipse-related event added to the website

• A way to sign up for a periodic eclipse newsletter

• Eclipse commemorative items for sale, including T-shirts and stickers, along with approved safe eclipse-viewing sunglasses

• Information on an Eclipse Ambassador program that organizations can utilize if they wish an eclipse representative to speak to their group

The Eclipse Task Force includes representatives from the city of Dripping Springs, Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau, Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce, Dripping Springs ISD, North Hays County Fire & Rescue Department, North Hays EMS and more.

The new eclipse website can be found at www.drippingeclipse.com.

For more information on the website or eclipse planning, email [email protected] or call the city of Dripping Springs at 512-858-4725.

To learn about safety precautions for the total solar eclipse, visit bit.ly/46UEljh.