Authorities are treating August's solar eclipse, the first in 99 years, like a national disaster

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A reflected image of the sun is seen on a white board as kids look up to view the beginning a partial solar eclipse outside the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California on October 23, 2014.

The total solar eclipse on August 21 will be the first visible across the United States since 1918.

In Missouri, preparations resemble that for a blizzard or "Everything from St. Patrick's Day parade to a World Series celebration," says Chris Hernandez, city spokesman for Kansas City, Missouri, one of the larger metro areas in the path of the eclipse.

The Red Cross is preparing hundreds of emergency shelters in the 12 states that will be touched by the eclipse in case of other emergencies that could occur while millions of travelers are away from home, he adds.

The company "Has prepared our networks for the additional capacity needs we expect during the eclipse and have emergency contingency plans in place to ensure access for first responders and other authorities."

Don't wing it and expect to find a hotel room the day before the eclipse, or you may end up in an emergency shelter or sleeping in your car.

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