<P> One story of solar eclipse danger was illustrated by the case of Mr. Tomososki, who damaged his eyesight when viewing a 1962 eclipse, leaving him with a pea - sized blind spot for the rest of his life . During the 2017 eclipse he warned the country to not make the mistake he did . While some can recover, the danger of an eclipse comes in part because the excitement can override the instinct to not look at the sun . </P> <P> Officials inside and near the path of totality planned--sometimes for years--for the sudden influx of people . Smaller towns struggled to arrange viewing sites and logistics for what could have been a tourism boom or a disaster . </P> <P> In the American West, illegal camping was a major concern, including near cities like Jackson Hole, Wyoming . Idaho's Office of Emergency Management said Idaho was a prime viewing state, and advised jurisdictions to prepare for service load increases; nearly every hotel and motel room, campground, and in some cases backyards for nearly 100 miles (160 km) north and south of the path of totality had been reserved several months, if not years, in advance . The state anticipated up to 500,000 visitors to join its 1.6 million residents . </P> <P> Oregon deployed six National Guard aircraft and 150 soldiers because the influx of visitors coincided with the state's fire season . Hospital staffing, and supplies of blood and anti--snake bite antidote, were augmented along the totality line . </P>

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