Niagara declares a state of EMERGENCY ahead of solar eclipse that will create monster traffic jams and strain emergency services as thousands flock to region to catch a glimpse

The total solar eclipse will be the region's first since 1979, and will see the area struggling with traffic jams and cell phone network overloads The city of Niagara Falls is anticipating around one million visitors Canada's Niagara Region has declared a state of emergency as it prepares for an influx of a million tourists ahead of next week's solar eclipse. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati estimates around one million tourists will flock to witness the spectacle - 14 times more visitors in a single day than the city normally sees in a year. Ontario's Niagara Region has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of a flood of tourists The city of Niagara Falls, on the U.S.-Canada border, is expecting to see around one million visitors on April 8 - 14 times more than the city regularly sees in a year The total solar eclipse will be the region's first in 45 years The state of emergency 'strengthens the tools the region has at its disposal to safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors and protect our critical infrastructure in any scenario that might arise,' according to the official announcement. The state of emergency is expected to help counter traffic snarls, increased demand on emergency services and cell phone network overloads States south of the border, most notably Texas, are also anticipated to see an influx of tourists Spectators are urged to wear only ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, as the sun's corona - or outer atmosphere - can cause vision damage Some Canadians took to social media to slam the state of emergency as an 'overreaction' While some Canadians conceded that the government was taking the appropriate steps to counter the flood of tourists, others took to social media to air their grievances, calling the state of emergency an 'overreaction.'