KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — A Texas county judge east of Dallas has issued a disaster declaration ahead of the April 8 total solar eclipse. 

What You Need To Know

  • Kaufman County Judge Jakie Allen announced the declaration Wednesday, and it will begin on April 5 and go through April 9

  • According to a news release, county officials are expecting approximately 200,000 people to travel to the county for the eclipse, which would double the population

  • Allen also sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asking him to issue a state disaster declaration “in order to make more state assets available should they be needed”

  • All of the recent county disaster declarations mention concerns about the potential for gridlock traffic before and especially right after the eclipse passes through Texas

Kaufman County, which is adjacent to Dallas County, is one of many Texas counties in the path of totality.

Kaufman County Judge Jakie Allen announced the declaration Wednesday, and it will begin on April 5 and go through April 9. 

“This is being done due to the projected and expected number of visitors to Kaufman County to view this once in a lifetime event,” a news release from the Kaufman County Office of Emergency Management said. 

According to the release, county officials are expecting approximately 200,000 people to travel to the county for the eclipse, which would double the population. 

The cities of Kaufman and Terrell are situated along the centerline of the eclipse, and that is where a majority of visitors are expected. 

“This dramatic increase in population, even for a short time, will greatly impact our Public Safety agencies, taxing their ability to respond to calls,” the release said. “Law enforcement, Fire, EMS, Emergency Management, and many other agencies have been meeting for several months to prepare for this event.”

Allen also sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asking him to issue a state disaster declaration “in order to make more state assets available should they be needed.”

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The county joins multiple other Texas counties in the path of totality which have issued local emergency declarations, including Bell and Travis counties. 

All three of those declarations mentioned concerns about the potential for gridlock traffic before and especially right after the eclipse passes through Texas.