Update from Town Manager 4/15/2020

shipyard office0 Comments
An Update from Town Manager Steve Riley
4/15/2020
View a Video Update from Town Manger Steve Riley at https://youtu.be/gbjEIiZtlLU
Good afternoon Hilton Head Islanders,
Today would normally be Tax Day and RBC Heritage Pro-Am Day, but we’re not in normal times. Since early March, we’ve been dealing with the coronavirus crisis and our state is still not at its peak with cases.
Based on data from SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), here is what COVID-19 by the numbers looks like for us as of April 15th:
  • 3,656 positive cases of the coronavirus in South Carolina.
  • 205 positive cases of the coronavirus in Beaufort County.
  • 23 (of 205) positive cases on Hilton Head Island.
  • 141 additional possible cases of the virus on Hilton Head Island.
  • 107 deaths in South Carolina.
  • 7 (of 107) deaths in Beaufort County.
How do we keep these numbers from rising significantly?
I offer advice we’ve all heard over and over and that I will continue to stress:
  • Act like everyone around you has the virus.
  • Wear a mask when you’re out. You can go to the CDC, SCDHEC and other reputable health sites for instructions on how to make homemade cloth masks.
  • Check on your elderly neighbors to make sure they have food, meds and other essential items. We can help keep this vulnerable population safe and away from stores and other places.
  • Wash your hands regularly.
  • Stay home if you’re sick.
  • Please do social distancing a little longer so we can get through this, keep the number of cases down and save lives.
Above all, in this crisis, please be kind to others in words and action.
Here are the latest updates on COVID-19 response in our community:
Stay Home, Stay Safe
I was particularly inspired by community leaders and residents who participated in our video and shared encouraging messages about staying home and staying safe. I hope you take a moment to view it and share it with family and friends.
Short-term Rentals
Calls about short-term rentals continue. To our family, friends and other visitors who want to come to Hilton Head Island, please stay home until this crisis is over. If you are the owner of a short-term rental, please consider reimbursing your guests or offering them a chance to use their stay at another time so they don’t lose the money they have paid. We continue to monitor and abide by orders from the SC Governor’s Office and we are still under a state of emergency.
Town and HH Homebuilders Association
Please join the Town of Hilton Head Island, Hilton Head Area Homebuilders Association and Construction Industry at large on Thursday, April 16th, for a 10 minute construction pause for National Safety Stand Down. Contractors are encouraged to use this time to go over social distancing guidelines and recommendations.
Kudos to our grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential retailers for taking steps to protect shoppers. On a call this morning, I heard about the steps Walmart has taken to ensure both customer and employee safety. Many other stores have taken similar steps – offering senior hours, placing floor decals to help with social distancing, maintaining customer flow so the store isn’t overwhelmed, having employees wear masks and gloves, offering curb side service and cleaning shopping carts. Please be patient as you shop. We all need food and supplies. It would be helpful to the stores if shoppers would not hoard items.
Our Code Enforcement Officers are working to make sure people comply with emergency orders and Town ordinances. Our beaches and parks remain closed, and we are enforcing towing for cars illegally parked in certain areas. Please do not park in areas with no parking signs and please do not park on people’s private property. Unfortunately we have had to tow some cars this week for people who have refused to cooperate. That enforcement will continue until emergency orders are lifted.
The Heroes Among Us
We need you to nominate our Community Heroes who have gone above and beyond every day to do good deeds, demonstrate generosity and good will, and simply make our lives better. Tell us who they are and what they have done. Please go to culturehhi.org and submit your nomination for community heroes. We’ll share their wonderful stories with you.
Community Sing-A-Long
Join in our community sing-along of the new Virus Safety Song produced by Fire Rescue. Submit a video recording of your family singing the song to Culture HHI by this Friday, 4/16/2020.Virus Safety Song can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/TownofHiltonHeadIslandSC/videos/3142440965981927/UzpfSTE3NDE5ODQ1Nzk0MTM2MTY6MjU5NTI4Nzg5MDc0OTk0Mw/
Island Recreation Center
Our Island Rec Center is hosting some virtual activities and fundraisers to continue providing programs and scholarships when it reopens. At islandreccenter.org, you can find more details on virtual exercise programs and other activities.
Support a Charity
Please visit the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and the United Way of Beaufort County to find out information on local charities you can support.
Stay informed:
For more information visit