Millions of people are expected to watch Monday’s solar eclipse, and many will opt to watch from the Oregon Coast. As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, officials urge caution near the ocean.
Any time you’re distracted on the beach can spell disaster. Rushing waves can overwhelm and drag away a person within seconds, or shift and roll logs that people may be standing on, possibly crushing limbs or pinning someone down in the water.
While this may all be common sense to veteran beachcombers and longtime residents, Lane County spokeswoman Devon Ashbridge says newcomers to Oregon need to be alert.
“We want them to be aware of the tides. They need to know when high tide occurs, when and where it’s safe to be based on that tidal table," says Ashbridge.
"We also know that we’re expecting along much of the Oregon Coast, very high tides just prior to the eclipse, so Oregon State Parks has been urging people to reconsider camping on the beach.”
Ashbridge adds people along the coast should note tsunami evacuation routes. Tsunamis aren’t caused by an eclipse, by the way. They’re triggered by underwater earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic activity.
Copyright 2017, KLCC.
