Tybee Island City Council Discusses Enhanced Sandbar Safety Measures

New Measures for Safeguarding Sandbars

The sandbar, a well-trodden path for beach visitors in Tybee Island, again made its way to the civic dialogues with a discussion about enhancing safety measures. The increased concern over safety initiatives came following recent reports of multiple drowning incidents in the area.

While sandbars, ridges of sand created by currents in the coastal rivers and waters, are inviting for beachgoers and boats during low tide, changing weather and tides can turn these seemingly harmless gatherings into perilous situations. The swift wave currents can capsize even an expert swimmer into deeper waters within a matter of minutes.

The Council’s Strategies

The Tybee Island City Council convened a meeting on July 25th where Alan Robertson of AWR Strategic Consulting gave a comprehensive presentation on the potential measures for improving public safety on these sandbars, specifically in the southern beach area.

According to Robertson, the most viable option would be installing more signage at appropriate locations, especially at three entrances to the south end sandbar. He did, however, express concerns about the challenges of committing adequate time and resources to manage the situation efficiently.

“During the beach renourishment in 2019 and January 2020, we added more sand from 13th Street to 19th Street, inadvertently exacerbating the situation,” commented Robertson.

Meanwhile, Interim City Manager Michelle Ownes shared that the city has already refurbished a major sign and is planning for additional signage closer to the waterline and at the crossover points since the last council meeting.

Public Appeals and Perspectives

Mayor Brian West broached the topic of categorically closing the beach at certain points, particularly in response to the seasonal changes. City Marshal Walter Hattrich echoed the concerns, pointing out the challenges of managing wave conditions and tides, all the while trying to delineate dangerous areas with temporary signage.

A few residents voiced their concerns on the issue during the public comment segment. Sandy Stoeffler, curator of the Tybee Sandbar and Water Safety Initiative Facebook group, shared her thoughts, while Sharlene Smith, a resident of Wilmington, urged the council to focus on preventive measures such as deploying drones or remote-control rescue buoys.

“If you need me to talk the governor, I will do whatever I can to get this stuff done. It’s a shame it’s taking this long,” stated Smith, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Enhancing Public Safety

The wave of concern over the safety of sandbars in Tybee Island has now reached the domain of public policy, with the City Council mulling over several possible solutions. With adding more signs and deploying high-tech solutions such as drones and remote-control buoys being discussed, it is clear that the island is looking to put a check on the series of unfortunate accidents that took place recently.

Determining Necessary Changes

The ultimate course of action, however, remains to be finalized and is expected to take into account the public opinion expressed during the Council meeting. Whatever the resolution may be, the discussion on sandbar safety serves as an essential reminder of the unpredictability of coastal waters and the need for constant vigilance in ensuring public safety.