Sapelo Island Dock Collapse Survivors Seek State Aid for Funerals

Sapelo Island Dock Collapse Survivors Seek State Aid for Funerals \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Survivors of a recent walkway collapse at a state-run ferry dock on Georgia’s Sapelo Island are asking the government to cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and mental health counseling. The tragedy, which took seven lives during a cultural festival, left survivors grappling with trauma and physical injuries. While lawmakers express support for victim aid, the state’s official response remains under review.

Georgia Dock Collapse Survivors Seek State Support for Funeral, Medical, and Mental Health Costs

• Survivors Seek Support: Survivors of the Sapelo Island dock collapse are calling on the state to assist with funeral, medical, and mental health costs.
• Legislative Hearing: Georgia lawmakers held a hearing with survivors who described physical and emotional impacts of the collapse.
• Calls for Accountability: Victims and their representatives demand the state investigate, provide support, and issue a formal apology.
• Current Assistance: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has offered mental health resources and liability claim forms but has not specified further aid.

Deep Look

Survivors of a deadly dock collapse at a state-operated ferry terminal on Georgia’s Sapelo Island have made an urgent appeal for financial and emotional support, following a tragic incident that claimed seven lives and left dozens injured. Speaking before Georgia Senate’s Urban Affairs Committee on Thursday, survivors described the physical, emotional, and financial toll of the collapse and urged state officials to step in with comprehensive assistance for medical costs, funerals, and mental health counseling. The tragic event occurred on October 19 during a popular cultural festival, when a metal gangway snapped and sent attendees into the waters below.

One of the survivors, Yvonne Brockington from Jacksonville, Florida, recounted the terrifying moment the walkway collapsed as she waited to board the ferry with her senior group. “It felt like being in a falling elevator,” she told lawmakers via video from her hospital bed, where she is recovering from broken legs sustained in the fall. Brockington’s group had traveled to Sapelo Island, joining 700 visitors for the Gullah-Geechee community’s annual Cultural Day celebration, a tribute to one of the few remaining Black communities in the South with direct ties to the Gullah-Geechee people, descendants of formerly enslaved Africans.

Brockington noted that four members of her group perished in the collapse and emphasized the need for psychological support and accountability. “The psychological effect, I don’t know if it will ever go away,” she said, urging the state to provide more than condolences. “The state of Georgia owes us more than resources. They owe us an apology, and they need to make sure it never happens again.”

Other survivors echoed Brockington’s sentiments during the hearing, sharing the enduring trauma they face. Darrel Jenkins, who saved two people from drowning but never confirmed if they survived, described ongoing nightmares and feelings of helplessness. “What about the people that might not have lived? Could I have done more?” Jenkins recounted, highlighting the psychological burden the tragedy has placed on survivors.

Another survivor, Regina Brinson, recounted the harrowing experience of losing her 79-year-old uncle, Isaiah Thomas. Brinson explained that she had to release his grip on her shirt to avoid being dragged underwater. “We need mental health support, financial support, resources to ensure that the survivors and their families have what they need to start recovery,” Brinson emphasized, noting the ongoing trauma survivors face.

The dock where the tragedy occurred is managed by Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which oversees daily ferry services between Sapelo Island and the mainland. On October 19, hundreds gathered for the Cultural Day festival, an event that annually celebrates the Hogg Hummock community’s rich heritage. Hogg Hummock, established by freed African Americans after the Civil War, is one of the last intact Gullah-Geechee communities, known for preserving African cultural traditions over centuries.

While the DNR and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are conducting inquiries into the cause of the collapse, survivors and their attorneys have raised concerns about the transparency of the investigation. Attorney Mawuli Davis, representing several injured survivors, noted that his clients have been contacted by state investigators but have yet to receive direct assistance. “Our clients are left wondering what kind of support they can expect,” Davis said.

Senator Donzella James, an Atlanta Democrat and chairperson of the Senate Urban Affairs Committee, expressed her commitment to supporting survivors, though the extent of the committee’s influence remains uncertain. As she explained during the hearing, “The state has responsibility. We’re having this hearing to find out what it is exactly they’re responsible for.” However, as Republicans hold the majority in Georgia’s legislature and governor’s office, the path to securing aid for survivors could face challenges.

The Department of Natural Resources has begun some limited assistance, recently offering free counseling to residents of Sapelo Island and the surrounding McIntosh County on the mainland. In a news release, the agency stated it would provide “ongoing mental health resources to those in need” and that Commissioner Walter Rabon had reached out to the families of those who died, sharing a direct contact number should they require further assistance. In addition, the department included a hyperlink to an online liability claim form for those affected by the tragedy.

Survivors and their attorneys are demanding a more substantial response from the state, including the provision of funds for funeral and medical costs. They also call for a transparent investigation. Some have expressed skepticism over the DNR’s ability to conduct an unbiased inquiry, as it is the very agency that operates the ferry dock. Following these concerns, Georgia’s Attorney General, Chris Carr, last week authorized an independent engineering firm to carry out a parallel investigation to ensure impartiality.

In the meantime, the survivors face challenges securing adequate support as they recover. Although the DNR’s counseling services were made available, the limited offerings have not quelled demands for an apology or clarity on accountability. “It’s not just about mental health,” Brinson stated, “it’s about ensuring that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

The survivors’ push for assistance underscores the need for clearer policies on state liability in public tragedies and highlights the unique role that government oversight plays in protecting visitors to public facilities. With attention now focused on the state’s response, the survivors and their advocates remain hopeful that this tragic incident will lead to more substantial state support and prevent future tragedies.

As the investigation continues, lawmakers and survivors alike await further details from the DNR and state officials. For now, Brockington, Jenkins, Brinson, and the broader group of survivors are left with ongoing trauma, limited resources, and a call for the state to provide support for those deeply affected by the tragedy.

More on US News