Finances can heavily impact travel plans. The cost of housing, transportation, food, gas and experiences can make-or-break where and when people go on vacation. The only difference with the eclipse is that it is imperative for visitors to travel during the days surrounding April 8. Because of this, the town must prepare for an influx of visitors; which also costs money. What is the solar eclipse preparation costing the town of Nashville and the Brown County government?

Chad Jenkins, director of Brown County Emergency Management, told the Democrat that as many as 100,000 people are expected on the day of the Eclipse.

“We know that during a really good fall, we see between 40,000 and 60,000 people,” Jenkins said. He added “With the population density during a really good fall, the number of events around the county and how many those will fit and parking, between 60,000 and 100,000 fits comfortably.”

Jenkins said his agency has been working for the past 15 months with local and state partners on planning for the eclipse. Some of the local partners include the volunteer fire departments, IU Lifeline, the Sheriff’s Department, Nashville Police Department, Dispatch, Highway Department, DNR, Brown County schools and various community organizations like the YMCA, TRIAD, Salvation Army and Red Cross.

“This is a once in a lifetime event. Enjoy it!” Jenkins said. “We can expect thousands and thousands to come to our beautiful county. Be patient. Expect traffic to be severely impacted … Be patient with visitors on our back roads who may be lost and turning around in your driveway. Reschedule medical appointments and have all your life safety supplies on hand. Recognize that public safety and emergency services are going to be overburdened. There will certainly be delays in response and major difficulty navigating traffic. This is an incredible opportunity for visitors to develop a first impression of our county and our tourism-based industry. Everything we have done to prepare and everything our businesses do to cater to our visitors represent our best chances of growing our industry.”

Jenkins said that Emergency Management did not have a budget for eclipse preparation since the solar eclipse is an event and not an incident, but was able to receive funding from the Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist with preparation costs.

“I was able to use 2023 EMA funding with council and commissioners support to direct funding to improve critical gaps in communications infrastructure,” Jenkins said. “In the last several months we have improved amateur radio capabilities and tornado warning capability. We have partnered with a local amateur radio organization to dramatically improve communication out of the EMA building and across the county. EMA applied for and was approved for funding from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. These funds will provide AED’s (automated external defibrillators), pre-position medical supplies and provide rehab refreshment for our responders. EMA was approved for $14,000 (from the Convention and Visitors Bureau).”

Jenkins recommends people visit the counties Convention and Visitors Bureau to read handouts and other information about eclipse preparation. You can visit the counties website at browncounty.com.

According to Sandie Jones Nashville’s town manager, the town has ordered 20 portable restrooms and 50 extra trash cans in preparation for the expected influx of tourists. The town has also ordered extra supplies like soap, toilet paper, signage and water. Much of the signage was ordered specifically for the local parks warning people that they cannot park, camp overnight or grill.

Jones said that the town has already spent around $9,000 on eclipse expenses including the portable toilets, trash cans and supplies. However, she estimates the total to be closer to $10,000 by the end of the solar eclipse preparation.

“The Convention and Visitors Commission gave the Convention and Visitors Bureau $40,000 to help government non-profit entities (in Brown County) with eclipse expenses,” Jones said. She added, “They gave $9,260 to the town alone which really helps with our budget.”

Jones said that if they did not have this donation, the money would most likely have come from the Food and Beverage Commission.

Kara Hammes, Convention and Visitors Bureau board chair, told the Democrat that the money came from the Innskeeper tax funds. That account is managed by the Convention and Visitors Commission.

Jones said that the free parking lots in town, Pat Reilly, Washington Street and Old School Way lots, will remain free throughout the event because the town wanted to give something to local people. They do not want local merchants to lose out on parking availability with the crowds. Jones said that the streets will not be barricaded unless absolutely necessary.

“If a wreck or something were to happen, we would barricade,” Jones said. “I want traffic to flow and people to stay upright.”

Another cost incurred came through the Brown County Community Organizations Active in a Disaster (COAD). COAD sent out a mass mailing to every postal address in the county. Chair Kim Robinson told the Democrat that the mailers cost the association approximately $4,000 to print and distribute. She said that the money came from the county’s COAD budget, comprised of leftover funds from COVID relief.

Brown County Sheriff Brad Stogsdill said the Sheriff’s Department will be staging officers in different areas of the county so they will be able to respond in a timely manner if assistance is needed.

“We’re having all hands on deck,” Stogsdill said. “We canceled all vacations or time-off requests. We want to have everyone there. Our officers will be stationed around the county, we will even have two over at Sweetwater / Cordry, so they don’t have to go all over the county.”

Stogsdill said they are also preparing by stocking up water and extra supplies so their officers have what they need at the department.