Carbon County is preparing for the possibility of thousands of people who may suddenly decide to travel to Rawlins if clouds obscure the view of the total eclipse of the sun in Casper on Aug. 21.

Casper is expecting about 35,000 people for the eclipse and the events preceding it.

But if it's cloudy, nearby Rawlins could provide a next-best option with above 95 percent of totality.

The county's emergency management coordinator John Zeiger said traffic will be the main concern.

However, cellular communications could be limited.

There also may be medical issues could be limited, and people may not be prepared for the desert heat, altitude and rattlesnakes, Zeiger said.

Zeiger borrowed much of the plan from contingency plans already developed for Laramie and Natrona counties, he said.

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