- Tips For Businesses -

The City of Harker Heights is anticipating a significant increase in visitors during the upcoming eclipse event. While this presents a great opportunity for local businesses, being well-prepared is crucial for a successful event. Various establishments including grocery stores, gas stations, hotels, restaurants, transportation services, retail stores, and others can expect higher than usual business levels.

Here are some key steps businesses can take to prepare for the event:

Back-up Plans: Expect an influx of customers and ensure you have the necessary supplies on hand well in advance. Consider extending your hours of operation to meet customer demands and establish back-up plans in case staff members are delayed due to traffic.

Employee Preparedness: Encourage your employees to prepare in advance by having a full tank of gas and ensuring they have essential items at home and resources such as childcare arrangements made by Thursday, April 4, 2023.

Cash and Financial Transactions: Be prepared for an increase in cash transactions and consider setting up additional tills to accommodate the higher demand. You may experience larger than usual deposits over the weekend. Verify if your bank will be open on Monday, April 8, 2024. If you rely on cell service or cell wireless service for transactions, have a back-up plan ready as there may be a high demand for cellular service during the impact period, especially on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Communications: Anticipate potential disruptions in cellular service due to increased demand. Visitors may have urgent requests to use your landline business phone if cell service is limited. Decide on the protocol for handling these requests and ensure your employees are informed. In case of a 911 emergency and if you have a landline, be prepared to assist.

Regularly Scheduled Deliveries: Review your regular delivery schedule and consider rescheduling deliveries that are planned for Monday, April 8, 2024, as they might be significantly delayed due to the high volume of vehicles in the county. Alternatively, consider ordering extra supplies the week before.

Restrooms: Be aware that many visitors may be camping in authorized or potentially unauthorized locations, leading to an increased demand for business restrooms. Public restrooms may be in short supply, and port-a-potties in limited locations could be at capacity until serviced.

Weather and Your Business: Monitor the weather forecast during the week leading up to April 8, 2024. If conditions are foggy or cloudy, visitors with hotel reservations may not change their plans, but those traveling for the day might seek better viewing conditions elsewhere.

By taking these preparatory steps, local businesses can maximize their opportunities during the eclipse event and provide visitors with a positive experience in the City of Harker Heights.