Millions of Northern Ohio residents and hundreds of thousands of visitors will look to the sky through dark glasses on April 8, and the American Red Cross is preparing.

In doing so, Red Cross volunteers and staff throughout Northern Ohio, especially the Disaster Action Team (DAT), are employing several of their greatest strengths: their experience and dedication, relationships with partner organizations and flexibility.

Preparation is needed. In addition to the eclipse and NASA’s broadcast from the Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland will host the NCAA Women’s Final Four on April 5 and Championship on April 7. The Cleveland Guardians home opener is on the 8th.

While estimates fluctuate, the number of expected visitors is up to 500,000, in addition to the 7.2 million Ohioans who live within the path of totality. The entire region will be crowded, especially downtown Cleveland. Other locations face unique challenges,  such as Avon Lake, which will have the longest period of totality.

I spoke with two people leading the preparations. Emma Banton, Regional Readiness Program Manager for Northern Ohio, and Piet Hagenaars, Disaster Program Manager for Northeast Ohio. Both are exceptionally experienced in crisis and emergency management.

The entire Northern Ohio Region Red Cross team has garnered considerable preparedness experience. Emma mentioned seven shelters were operated in our region over the past year, including our largest in over 20 years in Cleveland.

Emma, whose focus is all of Northern Ohio, said, "Each chapter will have at least one shelter team on call from April 5 through 9, while the Northeast and North Central Ohio chapters will each have two shelter teams standing by. Each chapter will also have one canteen team ready for any safety forces that may request refreshments during a response, like a home fire.”

“A Red Cross representative will also be deployed at the Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC),” said Piet, “And we are prepared to work with other county offices as needed.”

As home fires will still occur–the Red Cross responds to an average of more than three per day in our region–DAT crews will also be ready. Depending on traffic, crowds and logistics, they may respond virtually. In fact, home fires are a major reason shelters need to be ready. Should a family need a safe place to stay, hotels are fully booked.

Emma and Piet both stressed the importance of preparation, which can be difficult when we do not know where an incident may occur. Considerations include maintaining communication and having fully fueled vehicles should access to gas stations become limited. Emma has also supported the region’s chapter Disaster Program managers and specialists as they  updated shelter agreements and ensured readiness.

Emma added that the Disaster Program managers and specialists in all five of our region’s chapters are working diligently to ensure we are fully prepared.

Piet also finds inspiration from other crisis managers, like one who remarked he would never apologize for being over-prepared, and others who pointed out normal rules and expectations often do not apply in a crisis.

Finally, both are looking forward to enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime event. But when and where help will be needed, they are ensuring that the Red Cross is ready.

NASA’s tips for safely viewing a solar eclipse are here, and more information on the Red Cross, Northern Ohio Region, is here.