BUFFALO, N.Y. — A huge portion of New York will experience a total solar eclipse on April 8, but some homes and businesses will get a few extra seconds of totality.
Door by door, Tim Collins, a member of the Buffalo Astronomical Association, and the co-host of the 7th Magnitude podcast, is spreading that news.
“Hi. I’m not here to sell anything and I’m not here for religious conversion,” he said as a resident opened their door.
He isn't stopping by any addresses though.
“We are out walking under what's called ‘centerline,’” Collins explained,
It’s the place to be for eclipse chasers, since it has the longest amount of totality.
“Congratulations, you’re at the center of the solar system for a day,” Collins told one resident, with a smile.
It can come as welcome news.
“I've had some people scratch their chin and say $20 parking spaces,” he laughed.
Fundamentally, though, it is a matter of preparation and safety.
"When you're walking along centerline, you get people who are parking in the middle of the street," Collins explained. "Things like dentists' offices, doctors' offices, pharmacies, anybody who has any kind of patient need, pet care, any kind of grocery store, you can't get those supplies.”
Officials are doing their best to prepare.
“We're expecting somewhere from 500,000 to a million people,” said Jeffrey Schmidt, a captain and the public information officer for Cheektowaga Police Department.
With anywhere from six to eight hours of gridlock expected post-eclipse, plans are being made for emergency services to get around.
“Certain areas will be posted that they're not able to be parked in and we just have to be patient with that,” Schmidt said.
Updates will go out online and on the radio, but residents need to do their part, too.
“If you don't have the option to stay home, we ask you to have a plan," Schmidt explained. "Make sure that you have gas in your vehicle. Make sure that maybe you bring some water in your vehicle [and] something to snack on in your vehicle. Expect to be stuck in your car for a very long time.”
That's why Collins continues these chats.
“If there’s anything you need to do before that weekend is over, you should probably do it," he said to another resident. "Treat it like a snowstorm if you can.”
Letting people know they don't have to go anywhere is making a difference.
“The party is here," said Gina Graziani, who lives along centerline. “We would have no idea otherwise; no idea that this was coming right across our path. I probably would have been somewhere else celebrating.”
Families like the Grazianis are now making new plans.
“I requested off work. We have a family party. I'm going to invite the neighbors. We're very excited,” said Graziani.
So with one more street done, it’s a race against time to make sure that news catches on.
“Just talk to your neighbors across the street and let them know,” asked Collins at another house.
Totality doesn’t just happen along centerline. There’s a huge swath of New York that will see the sun blocked. Officials recommend looking into some of those areas.
But if you are wondering if you’re already on centerline, click here to look up your address.