Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - Both sides of Niagara Falls are considered to be "ground zero" of the Total Solar Eclipse this coming Monday. As preparations continue, they both hope this will bring a tourism boost, while keeping things running smoothly.
Niagara Falls, Ontario Mayor Jim Diodati says he expects a million people to flock to his city on Monday. That's the biggest crowd since Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk across the Falls in 2012.
"It's all hands on deck. We're preparing for everything and anything, Plan A Plan B, and Plan C, we're going to be ready for whatever comes our way that day," said Diodati, who has issued a state of emergency for his city.
His first concern is safety, and Diodati says all police, fire and regional workers are in place, with a lot of people being redeployed to be prepared for the big crowds. He's urging visitors to come prepared.
"Make sure your car's gassed up before you come, or your electric car's already charged, that your devices are charged. If you need medication, bring it, bring water bottles and cereal bars just in case, bring comfortable shoes because you'd be doing some walking, maybe bring a blanket if you want to lay down and take in the Eclipse and do it in a comfortable way," Diodati advised.
Diodati further adds if you can arrive early, there are still some good hotel rooms available at reasonable rates.
"There'll be a lot of people in motorhomes, cars, tents, a lot of the houses in Niagara have opened up their homes to visitors there allowing them to stay in rooms or in a motorhome in their driveway or tents in the backyard. There's going to be a lot of people at vacation rental properties," he said.
Diodati hopes this will give Niagara Falls the shot in the arm it's needed tourism-wise as the COVID pandemic hampered its success.
"You need to be talked about, you need to go from the back burner to the front burner. And that's what this is doing. And it's my hope and anticipation that this is going to lead to a significant uptake and international visitation where we've got a chance to start making up for lost ground over COVID," Diodati said.
In addition, Diodati has also brought in entertainment during and after the solar eclipse.
"During the eclipse, we're going to have the Niagara symphony orchestra playing some appropriate ominous music. After, we're gonna have some great bands playing and the idea isn't to draw more people. It's to get them to leave gradually," Diodati explained.
That way, there won't be gridlock as folks try to head home all at once.
While no state of emergency has been declared yet in Niagara Falls, New York, Mayor Robert Restaino says his city's preparing to make the eclipse safe.
"We've got drones in the air, sort of keeping an eye on things. With all of our public safety partners, we're hoping to be able to move traffic, it'll be slow, but it will be steady, and will help move people in as well as move them out," said Restaino in an interview with WBEN.
Restaino adds accidents do happen, so his fire and police departments will be taking extra precaution to make sure what they normally do is kicked up a notch for the big crowds.
Like Diodati, Restaino feels this will be a big bonus to his city's tourism industry.
"To get this type of attention, and having all of the hotels fully booked for several months is an advantage to kick off the season. We really don't see this kind of volume this early. So I couldn't put it to you in dollar amounts. But I can tell you that it will be a significant Kickstart to the to the tourist season," Restaino said.
The timing of the eclipse in Western New York is expected to start shortly after 2 p.m. ET with the partial eclipse. The time of total darkness is expected to start around 3:18 p.m. ET on Monday and last for around 3 minutes and 45 seconds.