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What isn't known is how many people will arrive in Cayuga County that day. According to Riley Shurtleff, the county's emergency services director, the state has told them the influx could be anywhere between 3,000 and 30,000 visitors. 

Parts of central New York, the Finger Lakes, North Country and western New York are in the path of totality. The farther north you go, the longer it will last. In Fair Haven, the county's northernmost village, totality will last more than three minutes. 

Despite the lack of a good estimate, the county is preparing for a sizable crowd. Areas within the path of totality are expecting throngs of people because it's a rare event. A total solar eclipse won't occur here for another 121 years, Shurtleff said. 

A coordination plan has been developed for the eclipse, with a focus on managing traffic and ensuring emergency vehicles have clear routes on main thoroughfares in Cayuga County. 

Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that he has been tasked with the public safety and transportation aspects of the plan. His agency will have additional patrols on the day of the eclipse and they will monitor traffic in the northern part of the county. 

"The top concern for us is traffic and making sure that our roadways stay open for travel," Schenck said. 

Temporary signs will be installed along some roads to limit parking. Schenck explained they want to avoid bottlenecks on main thoroughfares that could prevent the passage of emergency vehicles. 

Communication is an important part of the plan. Shurtleff said his department is working with local agencies to prepare for the eclipse. There will be additional resources, including the rope rescue team, moved to the northern end of the county. 

Like Schenck, Shurtleff highlighted the importance of maintaining a corridor for emergency vehicles to move through the county. 

But county leaders acknowledge it's a difficult event to plan for because it's unknown how many people will come to Cayuga County to view the eclipse. Shurtleff said there could be fewer people here than neighboring counties, such as Wayne, that are entirely within the path of totality. 

Schenck and Shurtleff said they have checked local hotels to gauge how many people are coming, but there are still rooms available. Most visitors will likely be people who make a day trip to Cayuga County for the eclipse. 

"This is going to be a very large event and it's a once-in-a-lifetime event," Shurtleff said. "If we don't prepare for it, we could certainly have our hands full. That's why we put the time and effort into this coordination plan."