Safety
Safety is the number one priority for the City of Cleveland.
The Cleveland Division of Police and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department continue to work with law enforcement partners at local, state, and federal levels, as well as City and County Emergency Management agencies, to plan for a safe event.
Due to the expectation of large crowds, there will be parking restrictions in the downtown area.
Pay close attention to signage indicating NO PARKING, as violators can be ticketed and towed. Parking will be at a premium and garages and lots can fill up quickly. Consider alternate travel plans, such as carpooling, ride shares and utilizing public transportation.
Have a safety plan in place for you and your family or group if you plan to visit downtown and choose a designated meeting area should someone become separated. Be mindful of small children who can easily become lost in a crowd.
In the event of large crowds, the downtown area could see heavy vehicle traffic congestion. Be sure to have adequate fuel in your car’s gas tank! Have food, water, and any necessary medication on hand in the event of long delays.
Although the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County do not expect large scale cellular network disruptions, large crowds lead to an increased use of bandwith and cell service can be compromised and slowed down. In the event of cellular outages, it is recommended that callers utilize WiFi calling. Travelers are also encouraged to have printed maps on hand in the event GPS services are temporarily unavailable.
You can be a part of the Eclipse safety plan! If you see something, say something. Report suspicious or illegal activity to law enforcement. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Call 216-621-1234 for non-emergencies.
Safe Viewing
Only look at the eclipse through a special-purpose solar filter. Safe eclipse glasses should comply with ISO 12312-2 international standard.
Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are unsafe. They transmit too much sunlight and could damage the eyes.
Inspect your solar filter; discard if scratched or damaged. Follow any instructions for the filter.
Always supervise children using solar filters.
For more on safe viewing: solar eclipse safety tips one pager (ohio.gov)
For more on reputable sources for eye protection: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters
Reunification Locations
The city will have three reunification locations in case families get separated.
Those locations are: Our Lady of Mount Carmel (West 70 and Detroit Avenue), Tower City’s Co-Deployment Center (50 Public Square), and the Cleveland Police 5th District (East 152 and St Clair).