Tybee Island to modernize its surveillance system

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Every summer, people head into Tybee Island’s waters, and some don’t come back. The city is spending more than $120,000 to make sure someone is always watching

City council recently voted to expand and modernize the island’s surveillance camera system so that all departments can access the camera network, moving it all under one system.

This new system isn’t just replacing aging technology. The city says it will improve emergency response times and lead to better, more life-saving outcomes.

“We need to be able to see those areas and see what’s going on so we can dispatch help if help is needed,” said Brian West, Tybee Island’s Mayor.

That’s why city council just approved a more than $120,000 contract to expand Tybee’s surveillance camera network.

West says it’s a needed move to replace aging and deteriorating equipment.

“They rust in the salt air out here,” said West.

The new upgrade doesn’t just replace corroded equipment; it connects the island’s separate camera systems into one, so dispatchers can zoom in on an emergency before officers even arrive.

Officials use the system to locate missing children, watch for swimmers in distress and monitor sandbars where strong currents pose dangers.

“We have people that go out on the south end of the island onto the sandbars and not realize how strong the currents are when they come back in,” said West. “And we lose we lose people there, if there’s something going on, a lot of times we can use the cameras to zoom in on what’s happening before an officer can get there.”

It’s been five years since the city last upgraded its camera system, and now they’re hoping this new technology will last

“We have to stay on top of those things,” said West.

The city is in the process of adding this new system, giving Tybee’s first responders a clearer picture of the island and a faster way to help in emergencies.