By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

As the Great American Eclipse nears and excitement grows for the rare event, emergency officials say they’re ready for the sun to set on the whole ordeal.

“I’m looking forward to the eclipse being over,” Tate Chanler admits with a chuckle. Chanler, director of the Clark County Office of Emergency Management, speaks on behalf of first responders throughout the state who will be working nonstop during the days before and after the April 8 eclipse.

Chanler’s role is coordinating emergency resources across the county: ensuring each fire department, law enforcement agency, and ambulance service has enough manpower to handle the influx in population.

The largest concern Chanler has for Clark County is the expected influx in traffic.

While Arkadelphia will experience less time in the dark than other towns to the west — Amity, just 25 miles away, will be dark for 2 1/2 minutes longer — the Clark County seat is situated on major thoroughfares. These highways are apt to be heavily traveled as eclipse chasers converge on The Natural State for a brief holiday. Where they’re coming from and where they’re going will ultimately determine which cities experience the strain of additional people and commerce. Arkadelphia and neighboring Caddo Valley, with its many chain hotels, could be a hotbed of activity, or it may be business as usual during those days — no one really knows.

“It will depend on where people are coming from and where they’re getting off the interstate,” Chanler said.

Lodging in Caddo Valley/Arkadelphia during eclipse

It certainly appears that travelers will be resting their heads at night in Clark County, regardless of where they’ll be watching the eclipse.

Online booking websites hint that Caddo Valley — home to most of the county’s chain-operated hotels — will indeed be a hotbed of commerce starting on the weekend ahead of the eclipse. Rates for the few rooms still available at the time of this writing (March 15) would cost travelers roughly the same as a weekend summer getaway at, say, Florida’s Emerald Coast.

There was only one room available at the Holiday Inn Express when we called Friday afternoon, and were quoted a price of $816 for a two-night stay. Priceline listed a two-night stay at the Motel 6 for $542. Other nearby hotels listed similar prices.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites, in Arkadelphia, still had several rooms available. We were quoted $1,000 for a two-night stay during the eclipse weekend, but were required to make a partially refundable pre-payment of $1,725.

Traffic congestion possible

For just a few days in early April, local highways very well could become as popular as those that funnel Florida beach-goers during spring break — at least that’s what the Arkansas Department of Transportation is preparing itself for.

Interstate 30, along with state Highways 7, 8 and 26, are expected to be traveled more as an estimated 70,000-281,000 out-of-state visitors (some state officials have estimated as many as 1 million) will be using Arkansas highways to reach their destination.

Eclipse chasers are apt to travel through Arkadelphia and/or Caddo Valley. Highway 8 connects Arkadelphia to Mount Ida, which will experience 4 minutes 15 seconds in total darkness. Highway 7 connects Arkadelphia to Hot Springs, which offers more shopping, dining and lodging options, not to mention tourist attractions. State Highway 26 leads I-30 travelers to Murfreesboro, home to the nation’s only public diamond mine that also happens to be a state park. Murfreesboro will also experience more time in the dark.

RELATED: Eclipse events planned in Arkadelphia

Beginning the Saturday before the April 8 eclipse, there will be additional staff among law enforcement agencies, fire departments and ambulance services, Chanler said. Asked if the county is prepared for the worst, he said, “I think we are. We have the ability to bring in extra staff. We have enough volunteer firefighters and reserve or part-time sheriff’s deputies to handle broad-scale emergencies.”

With no crystal ball to predict what the eclipse will really bring through Arkadelphia, Chanler said it’s really a “wait-and-see” scenario. But, he assured us, the county is equipped and prepared for what happens.

Locals, on the other hand, should prepare ahead to ensure their normal routine is uninterrupted. Scads of information abounds on eclipse websites, so Chanler has a simpler approach on how local residents should get ready: “Treat it like an ice storm,” he said. Fuel up vehicles and buy groceries ahead of time, and schedule appointments days in advance of or after the event.

While tourists and locals alike will be looking up for a few minutes on the afternoon of April 8, emergency officials will be looking straight ahead and forward — to put the eclipse in their memory, that is.

“I just hope I get to watch it,” Chanler said.