Ready for the total eclipse? Oregon will have prime viewing

In exactly two months from Wednesday, the community can catch a total eclipse in parts of Oregon.

One million people are expected to flock to places like John Day, and Baker City, Oregon, for the event. A total solar eclipse has not occurred across the entire continental United States for 99 years.

But if you plan on heading to the totality line, where you would see a total eclipse, Steven Lawrence with NASA's Center of Excellence says plan ahead.

"Pretty much along the path of totality is going to see a lot of people, the transportation agencies we've been working with, they are working with local businesses and hotels, and have found a lot of places along the entire path, hotels have been booked out for two years in advance," says Lawrence.

It is a similar story with Oregon campgrounds, which sold out as quickly as the state posted the openings, several sites were also placed into a lottery drawing.

Martin Knopp with the Federal Highway Administration says they are already preparing for a mass amount of people on the roadways. Oregon State Patrol troopers and local agencies will be out enforcing cars to continue driving, instead of trying to stop on the interstates, highways or local roads.

"Prepare in advance, don't do it on the spur of the moment, we lose way to many lives on the highway already and we want to make sure this runs perfectly and people enjoy this," says Knopp.

If you do not plan to travel August 21st, the southeastern Washington region is expected to see a partial eclipse and five libraries in our area, plan to have events to celebrate. Those locations including the Richland Library, the Oregon Trail Library in Boardman, Plaza Way Library in Walla Walla, the Ritzville Public Library and the Yakima Valley Libraries.

The total eclipse will happen at over a span of almost two hours, with the line of totality experiencing about two minutes of darkness in the middle of the day. A live stream of the event will be available here from NASA. Totality viewing begins at Lincoln City, Oregon, at 10:16 a.m.

You can find more information about the event on the NASA website dedicated to the eclipse.