People, people and more people.

Those are the forecasts for crowds that will descend on the path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse.

Tom Traub, a NASA eclipse ambassador, pointed out that 31 million people live within the path of totality.

Another 149.5 million live within 200 miles of that path.

That means that over three-quarters of the population of the United States is within a four hour drive of the path.

“It means you’re going to see more people than on the Fourth of July,” he said.

According to PennDOT, nearly 435,000 Pennsylvanians live in the four counties – Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Warren – that are on the path of totality.

They estimate “upwards of 200,000 people” are expected to travel to Erie alone “which could lead to travel challenges in different portions of the state throughout the day.”

Estimates in New York State are even higher – Traub said those estimates range from 239,000 to 515,000.

Having witnessed several total solar eclipses, he explained that people will start arriving a few days in advance up to the last minute.

It’s the travel after – when everyone is looking to leave the path of totality – that has emergency planners concerned.

To that end, Pennsylvania State Police have said they will be prepared to remove disabled vehicles from the interstates in the region and will be posting troopers at each exit to keep traffic moving. People gathered at rest stops will be directed to view the eclipse elsewhere.

“Our primary concern is public safety,” Colonel Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said. “Troopers will have an increased presence in the area and zero tolerance for distracted, aggressive, and intoxicated drivers. This eclipse should be a once-in-a-lifetime event with fond memories, not an experience marred by tragedy.”

“Plan on arriving as early as possible if you are going to travel somewhere,” Traub advised, “and the sooner the better. Traffic will be bad to begin with and worse after.”

He said he’s seen two hour trips turn into 12 hours efforts after eclipses as well as gas stations running out of gas and restaurants running out of food and cell phone service dropping.

“It’s going to happen along those routes as people are coming back through,” he said. “Preparation is essential.”

He encouraged people to fill up their gas tanks in the days in advance of April 8.

PennDOT has set up an event specific 511PA page – 511pa.com/eclipse24 for suggested route details.

“It’s important to realize that if you know an event is going to happen, you can plan to minimize its impact,” PEMA Director Randy Padfield said. “Make sure that you’ve taken care of routine errands before April 8 or take care of them the next day.

“Anyone who lives or works in northwest Pennsylvania needs to think ahead about how they will get to work, handle childcare and attend to any important medical appointments the day of the eclipse. It is highly recommended that any unnecessary travel be delayed or rescheduled.”

“It’s going to be a great boon for everybody,” Traub said. “Businesses around here could very well be hopping. It can be great for the economy. Again, our thing is about safety.

“If you don’t have to be out on the road, don’t be,” he said. “We want this to be a memorable event for the good reasons, not the bad.”