It will be Tuesday afternoon before all of the residents of Georgia’s barrier islands are allowed to return home.
Residents of six counties evacuated before Hurricane Matthew’s arrival were allowed to return to their homes Monday afternoon. But residents of St. Simons Island were still prohibited from going home, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency said.
The evacuation was lifted for Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh counties, and I-16 eastbound re-opened. But officials warned that some areas may not have power, water or sewage services yet.
Some areas in the region remained under a boil-water advisory, including the St. Simons Island Water System in Glynn County, the City of Kingsland in Camden County, the City of Girard in Burke County, and McIntosh County.
Jerry Davidson, who has lived in St. Simons nearly 20 years, understands that storm recovery efforts will be faster without extra people around. But after several days away from his home, Davidson says Glynn County officials have given him no information when he’ll be allowed to return.
“They’re not keeping us really updated,” Davidson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We feel like we’re in the dark.”
That changed Monday evening, when the Glynn County commission said the next phase of recovery would begin at noon Tuesday. Only those who live or work on the island will be allowed entry.
Davidson took a single change of clothes when he left, thinking he would return the following day. But after two nights at a relative’s home in Sparta and one night in a hotel, Davidson returned to his job Monday at a Jekyll Island resort. That island is open, but not the one where he lives.
A church member who stayed on the island during the storm has checked Davidson’s home and told him it was spared from major damage. He’s grateful, but says he wishes he’d never left his home.
“I’ve heard a lot of people saying they won’t leave next time,” Davidson said.
About the Author
