LUMBERTON — Monday’s solar eclipse is bringing more than excitement about a rare celestial display to Robeson County; it’s bringing dollars to the local economy.
Lumberton is about 90 minutes away from central South Carolina, where a total solar eclipse will be seen, said Angela Summer, Lumberton Visitors Bureau director. That makes the city an ideal place for eclipse enthusiasts to stop, rest and eat as they travel south to witness the eclipse.
“I-95 South from Roanoke Rapids, we’ve gotten reports of increased traffic heading this way,” she said. “We’re hoping for increases in traffic and increases of hotel stays as the hotels in South Carolina start to fill up.”
It appears those hopes are being realized.
“I have talked to a couple hotels and they have some increases,” Summer said.
Employees at local hotels and motels are reporting a rise in business.
“We have seen a increase in reservations for Sunday night,” said Tawana Hunt, front desk manager at the Holiday Inn on Wintergreen Drive in Lumberton.
“Sunday we are all booked up and Monday night as well. All 70 rooms are sold out,” said Erika Wright, front desk associate for Comfort Inn on Dawn Drive.
Eclipse chasers traveling south along Interstate 95 need not fear all rooms in Lumberton are booked.
“We still have 25 rooms available for Sunday night,” said Belva Smith, front desk clerk at Lumberton Inn on Roberts Avenue.
People seeking a view of the total eclipse over South Carolina are advised that traffic along I-95 will be heavy. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has put up warning signs in Robeson County’s southbound I-95 lanes. On Friday afternoon, traffic was moving briskly on the stretch of interstate through the city, but it was close to bumper-to-bumper.
During the event, DOT advises motorists to be aware that people may be stopping on the side of the road, pedestrians may be crossing streets randomly to get a better view, and motorists need to watch out for distracted drivers and pedestrians. Motorists should use their headlights during the eclipse when it’s darker.
To get real-time traffic information on closures and detours across the state, go to DriveNC.gov.
Robeson County residents, and travelers who decide to stay in Lumberton, will see a solar event where 97 percent of the sun is covered as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. The eclipse will reach its peak locally about 2:46 p.m.
It is critical for eclipse viewers to use approved eye wear.
“Normally, we don’t look at the sun and avoid eye damage from solar radiation,” Ken Brandt, director of the Robeson County Planetarium, said recently. “Robeson County will get a partial eclipse — 97 percent — so people are tempted to look at the sun, but it’s still dangerous.”
Finding sunglasses, however, hasn’t been easy. The Robesonian this week was unable to find any retailer with them in stock, and none were expected.
The Robeson County Public Library in downtown Lumberton will be giving away sunglasses on Monday until there are none left at an event it is holding that begins about noon and will last until after 4 p.m., when the eclipse will end.
What will be seen in the skies over Robeson County is dependent on the weather. Forecasts from earlier in the week had the chance of showers and thunderstorms on Monday at about 60 percent. As of Friday afternoon the chance of rain was 30 percent, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 92, according to National Weather Service.
