Tybee Island beaches back open following governor's order Friday Governor Kemp's order reopens the state's beaches, despite the coronavirus. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

BUSINESSES ARE BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER. YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AT WJCL-DOT-COM. FOLLOWING CONFUSION OVER GOVERNOR KEMP'S SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER .. BEACHES ON TYBEE ISLAND ARE OFFICIALLY RE- OPEN. WJCL'S STEPHEN MOODY JOINS US NOW LIVE FROM TYBEE. STEPHEN WHAT'S THE REACTION TONIGHT FROM CITY LEADERS? MAYOR SHIRLEY SESSIONS IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE BEACHES REOPENING. SHE SAYS THAT SHE'S DISAPPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION. BEACHES ON TYBEE ISLAND HA BEEN CLOSED FOR WEEKS AFTER AN ORDER BY MAYOR SHIRLEY SESSIONS. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER OVERRIDES THAT. "WE ARE VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED AS A COMMUNITY". MAYOR SESSIONS SAYS THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS WHO DECIDE TO VISIT THE BEACH. "TYBEE DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE A SIX-FOOT SEPARATION AND LESS THAN 10 PEOPLE IN GATHERINGS. WE EXPERIENCED THAT IN MARCH. THAT'S WHY WE CLOSED THE BEACH. WE KNEW THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO HANDLE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE". ACCORDING TO MAYOR SHIRLEY SESSIONS IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE BEACHES REOPENING. SHE SAYS THAT SHE'S DISAPPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION. BEACHES ON TYBEE ISLAND HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR WEEKS AFTER AN ORDER BY MAYOR SHIRLEY SESSIONS. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER OVERRIDES THAT. "WE ARE VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED AS A COMMUNITY". MAYOR SESSIONS SAYS THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS WHO DECIDE TO VISIT THE BEACH. "TYBEE DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE A SIX-FOOT SEPARATION AND LESS THAN 10 PEOPLE IN GATHERINGS. WE EXPERIENCED THAT IN MARCH. THAT'S WHY WE CLOSED THE BEACH. WE KNEW THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO HANDLE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE". ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER OVERRIDES ANY LOCAL ORDINANCES. SO THERE'S NOTHING THE CITY CAN DO TO KEEP THE BEACHES CLOSED. MAYOR SESSIONS SAYS THE CITY IS ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE. SESSIONS SENT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ASKING HIM TO RECONSIDER THIS ORDER. "WE HAVE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE SELF- QUARANTINED. ONE OFFICER IS BEING TESTED. WE FEEL THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE PUTTING THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC AT RISK, BUT ALSO OUR STAFF". AND NOW SHE'S PLEADING WITH EVERYONE ELSE. PLEASE STAY OFF OF THE BEACH. "DON'T COME OUT TO TYBEE IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, OR YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH, AND THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THEM OUT HERE WHEN ALL IS SAFE. WE'RE ENCOURAGING OUR RESIDENTS TO STAY AT HOME. WE JUST HOPE THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS". THE MAYOR SAYS DUE TO TH TIMING OF THIS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE STAFFING AVAILABL FRIDAY TO TAKE DOWN THE SIGNS AT THE ACCESS POINTS. REPORTING LIVE ON TYBEE ISLAND, STEPHEN MOODY WJCL 22 NEWS. WHILE BEACHES ARE OPEN-- CHAIRS, TENTS, AND UMBRELLAS ON THE BEACH ARE BA

SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks. Submit Privacy Notice