As April's solar eclipse approaches, New York's jails are preparing.
On April 8, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision stated it will halt visitations at roughly two dozen facilities in totality's route.
The government said 23 facilities “will experience total darkness ranging from approximately one and a half minutes to approximately three and a half minutes.” These locations will be closed all day, while those not “directly” in the route will close at 2 p.m.
Hell Gate stated that all DOCCS detainees will be kept in their housing units from 2-5 p.m. on April 8 according to a document published earlier this month. Even so, the department allegedly bought a lot of solar eclipse protection glasses to give to inmates on the day.
New York has been preparing for months for its first solar eclipse in over a century in April. Early this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state's intention to give hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors a unique, safe, and uplifting event.
In the afternoon of April 8, 2024, a total eclipse will cover western and northern New York. Between 3:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., the moon will pass between the Earth and sun, turning day into night for 1 ½ to 3 ½ minutes.
The 100-mile-wide path of totality will hit southwestern New York after 3:15 p.m. and leave before 3:30. This trail passes via Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Old Forge, Lake Placid, and Plattsburgh. The occurrence will continue up to 2 ½ hours, from where the sun is first blocked until when the moon's shadow is cast.
Other parts of the state beyond the path will still see a spectacular sky. With 88% solar shadow, Long Island will have the lowest state coverage. New York City will have 89% coverage and the Capital Region 96%.
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