On August 21^st there will be a total solar eclipse visible over a 100km pathway across twelve American states. Millions will travel to that narrow strip of land and officials are gearing up for all the problems this will cause wrote Meredith Rutland Bauer:

• South Carolina has 4.9 million people. It is expected to get up to another 2 million in eclipse watchers.
• This will jam traffic and block emergency vehicles.
• Grocery stores, gas stations, and hospitals are expecting supply chain delays and are stocking up in advance.
• People will be enthralled by what’s happening in the sky – which will cause car accidents and injuries from people walking into things.
• Eclipse viewers will also crowd onto elevated platforms like parking garages to get a better view – too many people though could cause structures to collapse.
• Visitors better print out a map – the mobile network is expected to be entirely overwhelmed.
• City officials will also have to deal with their own residents. Some won’t know about the eclipse, will panic when it happens, and will alert 911 about the end of the world.

Read the rest of Bauer’s fascinating article on City Lab.