Tybee Island Braces For A Rise In The Number Of Visitors This Weekend

May 1st, 2020

Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions says her community doesn’t have adequate resources to enforce social-distancing guidelines on the island’s beaches.

Stephen B. Morton / Associated PRess

Now that Georgia’s statewide stay-at-home order has come to an end, the mayor of Tybee Island says her community is bracing for a rise in tourism.

On Friday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Mayor Shirley Sessions told host Rose Scott that warm weather and loosened restrictions will likely lead to more crowds on the island’s beaches. Sessions said the city is expecting an estimated 10,000 cars, based on data from last weekend.

The mayor added she does not feel her community has adequate resources to enforce social-distancing guidelines.

The Tybee Island City Council previously voted to close the city’s beaches in late March. However, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s stay-at-home order reversed the council’s decision. As a result, Tybee Island’s local leaders were required to reopen the beaches during the pandemic, despite Sessions’ objections.

Meanwhile, Kemp has defended his decision to keep beaches open during his stay-at-home order. During an April news conference, he said Georgians should still have the opportunity to get outside.

“I think part of the problem was that people didn’t understand exactly what it meant that we were going to keep state parks and have our beaches accessible,” said Kemp. “It doesn’t mean that we’re opening the beaches up for spring break parties or the Friday afternoon before the July 4th weekend.”

.⁦@GaDNRLE⁩ just took this video of the beaches on St. Simon’s. Very few visitors. Patrols are vigilant so people can get fresh air and exercise while following social distancing rules. pic.twitter.com/lCWUftfiJ2

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 5, 2020

In her conversation with Scott, Sessions explained how her community is preparing for the rise in visitors and the steps local leaders are taking to reach out to the island’s most vulnerable populations.

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