Editor’s Note: The following letter was submitted to Now Habersham for publication by Susan Focke of Hiawassee. The views expressed in this commentary are hers.
Governor Kemp,
Are you sure that the entertainment of those Georgians who live in our largest cities is more important than the health of those of us living in rural resort, lake, beach and state camping areas? Most of the state of Georgia are rural areas with few grocery stores and very, very small hospitals and health care systems that are strained under the crash of bored Georgians looking to spend the weekend at the lake, beaches or in the mountains for a “change of scenery”. You’ve proclaimed hiking and camping as “essential” while those Georgians flooding our small towns buy up our groceries, order our to go food, fill their vehicles at our stations and quite possibly also fill our tiny hospitals if they fall ill while here. We are communities of responsible people, sheltering in place for weeks now and who will have to travel hours to make it to a trauma level hospital for care. Many of our County Commissioners closed all camping areas in their respective counties in order to protect their residents. Your Declaration beginning Friday, April 3, 2020, 6:00 pm overrode those closures, filling our state campgrounds with a majority of Atlanta area residents who hail from the worst Hot Spot in our state. All camping areas, short term rentals of any kind and hotels should be closed again ASAP!
Please, please, please put the safety of your rural Georgia residents at least at the level of the boredom or entertainment of city dwellers and close all state parks, cabins, hotels and campgrounds. When does “Shelter in Place” become travel to another county? Covid-19 doesn’t move itself, PEOPLE MOVE THE VIRUS! We all need to “Stay Home” in our county of residence. Governor, you had many, many votes from Georgia rural areas…don’t forget us now!
Governor, save us all, please! It’s not too late….yet. Do your part, Governor Brain Kemp.
Susan Walker Focke
Hiawassee, Georgia
