Criminal Defense Attorney in Skidaway Island, GA.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - The City of Tybee Island is trying to find ways to improve its EMS response times after an incident earlier this month where it took an hour and nine minutes for an ambulance to respond to a trauma call.

City officials say that something needs to be done.

It has been a slow, but steady incline for EMS response times on the island.

“Since Covid and now present, the majority of the time that EMS is called, on Tybee, there is not an ambulance stationed on the island. The reason why is because they are running everywhere else too,” said Tybee Island fire chief Jeremy Kendrick.

But a situation just this month has exposed the flaws in that operation - as a trauma patient waited over an hour for an ambulance.

“When these services have been called, they have the following responses, ‘it is too far for us to respond’ or ' we don’t have any units available to respond.’”

This instance struck a nerve with the city officials that sparked a deeper look into the response time and what they say was far from what they had hoped.

The data presented shows that response times for EMS calls have increased substantially over the past two years, from 10 minutes and 20 seconds to more than 14 and a half minutes.

That’s an increase of 38%.

The biggest contributor to these wait times is Chatham County’s EMS staffing struggles.

Fire Chief Jeremy Kendrick presented five options to the council -

Kendrick’s push is for the fifth option of creating a Tybee-specific ambulance station, but that could cost the city a little over $1.1 million, creating a fee of $30 a month for Tybee residences.

This was just the first step in finding a long-term solution for the island. At this time the request for more staffing for the island fire department will head before the city council next month.

When WTOC asked the fire chief if this was approved, would he even have people to fill those spots and he said that he has already had several applications for those positions.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Heavy winds on Tybee Island as Idalia came through Georgia’s coast.

Some coming to see the crashing waves for themselves.

“I like to see what a hurricane does at the beach. It’s interesting.”

And some bars like Windrose still had their doors open, according to owner Jessica Hadley.

“They always like to have somewhere to have their hurricane parties.”

The wind knocked some power lines down, like one on 2nd Ave. Limbs and debris can be seen on the streets.

But there wasn’t as much rain as what might have been, meaning little flooding. That’s something Deb Barreiro is grateful for.

“We got off really easy today.”

She’s been living here for nearly 30 years and has seen many storms.

“We were really lucky today. The wind was scary and the gust were frightening but the damage seems to be minimal.”

And fellow islander Ashley Stille may have a mailbox to get situated but she shares the same relief.

“I said none of the neighbors had any big damage and we didn’t either. So a mailbox, if that’s all it is, I’m happy with.

While Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions says she is also grateful, she acknowledges the fact that the beach endured some powerful winds. Erosion being her main concern.

“A lot of wind, a lot of flooding and that’s what really causes damage.”

She’s says city staff will be teaming up with the Department of Natural Resources to take a look at how much sand was lost and go from there.

“If it was significant, we will be able to get some funding to help with those repairs. But all in all, we’re very fortunate. My hearts and prayers go out to our neighbors in Florida and inland, who were not as fortunate,” said Mayor Sessions.

Mayor Sessions says she’ll keep us updated on what they find in the coming days. She applauded city leaders and residents for being well prepared.

She wants folks living out here to keep that preparation in mind because hurricane season is not over. That means having insurance policies because it’s better safe than sorry.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - A special guest was honored at Thursday’s Tybee Island City Council meeting.

Retired Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Williams made his way to the island for a presentation in his honor.

Williams received a standing ovation from all those at the meeting Thursday night. The mayor says that he has been a true advocate for Tybee on a state level and for that, they wanted to make their appreciation known.

“We don’t actually know if this key opens anything but…”

An honor nonetheless, former DNR Commissioner Mark William received a huge thank you for his work with the island, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was a great run, and we have had great work from yourself and your city council,” said Williams.

“We wanted to thank Mark and his amazing Support and advocacy for Tybee back during the pandemic. During some of the non-permitted events, he was always so so helpful, he is one of the high-level officials in front of the state that reached out to Tybee,” said Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions.

Williams has since retired from his position with the Department of Natural Resources and is now working as the CEO of Jekyll Island Authority but before he left, the people of Tybee had to say their goodbyes.

“He has made such a difference in his partnership, he is a true leader, and he will be missed,” said Mayor Sessions.

Tybee’s city council presented him and his wife with a key to the city and declared August 10th “Mark Williams Day” on the island.

Efforts to restore benches and swings on Tybee Island

The City of Tybee Island is also thankful to Mark Williams for his effort to get the island’s swings and benches back on the crossover.

In 2007, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources noticed that the city’s original permit didn’t cover certain benches and swings.

Since then, the benches have slowly been removed as the crossover needed repairing. Over the last year, residents and tourists have put pen to paper to help the city get them back.

“We tried to get the message out to our residents and visitors to please help Tybee convey to DNR, that we wanted the swings, and that they wanted the benches, and they did, they really did, they really rallied and sent letters and those letters made a difference,” said Mayor Sessions.

The city has been working to find where these benches and swings will go and will start the process soon.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

Sen. Ossoff delivering new resources to construct a hurricane and tornado safe room on Tybee Island

Shelter will protect first responders & emergency personnel responding to hurricanes & other natural disasters

Last year, Sen. Ossoff passed bipartisan legislation into law to protect Tybee Island from storm surge & coastal flooding

Tybee Island, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering public safety upgrades to keep Tybee Island residents safe.

Sen. Ossoff is delivering new resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to construct a new hurricane and tornado safe room on Tybee Island, providing a safe area for emergency personnel who must remain on the Island during hurricanes and other disaster situations.

The new safe room, which Sen. Ossoff secured with bipartisan support, will also serve as additional protective shelter for any residents who cannot evacuate safely in the time necessary. There are currently almost 800 Tybee Island residents living within half a mile of the new facility.

“After passing my Tybee Island Storm Risk Management Act into law last year, today I am delivering the resources to construct a hurricane and tornado safe room near the Tybee Island fire station,” Sen. Ossoff said. “I thank Mayor Shirley Sessions and Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis for their leadership in helping secure this grant to save lives in Coastal Georgia.”

“We are so thankful and appreciative of Senator Ossoff’s continued support in helping Tybee’s resiliency efforts, including this recent funding to build a safe room for our first responders and residents,” Mayor Shirley Sessions said. “Because Tybee Island is a small, barrier island, with just one road on and off, this shelter will greatly increase our ability to save lives and respond to emergencies.”

“I would like to thank Senator Ossoff’s office for securing this funding. This shelter will allow Tybee Island critical workforce staff to safely shelter during natural disasters ensuring a quicker response to an incident,” Chatham County Chairman Chester A. Ellis said. “Resilience after a disaster is important not only to the Tybee Community but the County as a whole.”

In the last century, Tybee Island has suffered from more than 78 hurricanes and 15 reported tornadoes, and the Island remains a high-risk area for flooding over the next 30 years.

Last year, Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan legislation to protect Tybee Island from storm surge, beach erosion, and coastal flooding was signed into law. This law will extend the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ authority to partner with Tybee Island for another 12 years.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - A decent amount of people living on Tybee Island have out with their shovels preparing for the expected flooding coming with Idalia. Folks have been making food runs as well.

Trenton Spencer and his buddies doing what they can.

“To keep the flooding out, keep the water out.”

Before Idalia makes its way here, Spencer says the sandbags they’re filling at Tybee’s Memorial Park aren’t only for themselves.

“Not every neighbor can take care of themselves. So, if you can sit there and help out your neighbor, that’s what you do. That’s what neighborhood is.”

And even with some rain, their fellow Tybee Islanders also took part.

Just up the street at the island’s only grocery store, Tybee Market, some folks are stocking up.

When asked “you getting ready for the storm?

A resident said, “I am.”

But they still have plenty on the shelves for those in need.

“So, we’ve had a lot of people come in today. We got water stacked up all over the store.”

Matthew Pearson has been working here for 18 years and says this is the first year they will have generator during a major storm.

He says they are staying open until around 6 p.m. tomorrow to make sure people living here and visiting have what they need.

“They may be from up north and they’ve never experienced storms like this before. Some people want to come sight see and we’re here for everyone to get their last minute things done and try to give them advice on what we know,” said Pearson.

Tybee Fire Chief Jeremy Kendrick reminds folks to take this storm seriously, because it can change any time.

“Prep your homes. Have your water and your dry goods available. Have your cell phones charged up. Buy those portable chargers, flashlights and be in preparation that you know that there is a storm coming. Go ahead and prepare for it,” said Chief Kendrick.

Chief Kendrick says they’re mostly worried about flooding and downed power lines. He says highway 80 will be closed Wednesday night if it’s flooded and unsafe.

Leaders say if you’re in a low lying home, you should be even more alert for flooding.

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.