Quotes from the South: "God willin' and the creek don't rise"

This week I spent quality time on the island of Fort Sumter patrolling the perimeter, checking for trash and boats docked too close by, watching the morning flag-raising, listening in on each unique talk the interpreters provide, and enjoying the quiet peace between ferries. Jurisdiction out on the shore and open water varies between the Coast Guard, DNR, and Charleston County, which means communicating with and running into other officers on the water isn't an unusual thing. On my way our I shared the ferry with two friendly Coast Guard officers. We talked about what it's like living and patrolling in Charleston, and how the Coast guard fits into this multi-jurisdictional area and will frequently check out the Fort, which we certainly appreciate.

Fort Moultrie is not the only significant item on Sullivan's Island. The entire island is rich with history, artifacts, graveyards, and historic structures. It's a hot spot for artifact and relic hunting, and the focus of a lot of archeological fantasy. We sat down with the Town Manager to discuss how to handle when people come asking the city or park to officially dig somewhere in the hopes of finding certain artifacts, and have tried to remain on the same page and set a precedent of historical preservation over giving in to the interests of these groups, who may likely cause serious damage to their area and historical record of the soil by digging. 

Looking toward the future, I've decided where I'm going to hide out in case of a zombie apocalypse. Drive up into North Charleston and you'll come upon a large, fenced in, Category-5 Hurricane withstand-able fortress. Since there no active zombie apocalypse going on, it's currently occupied by the largest, most official and organized dispatch crew I have ever seen. I've heard dispatch on the radio, always attentive and prepared, ready with immediate response. Once I looked inside their operation, I understood why. This center is something out of a movie. Over 20 people on duty at a time minimum, with a full staff of over 100m screens of differing sizes covering the desks and walls, a myriad of complicated programs and video surveillance windows running in front of every dispatcher, and separate fire and EMS operations to ensure that the right responders get to the right call in a timely manner. Dispatch has a thorough emergency-preparedness plan, and the fact that the facility can withstand hurricanes means that these employees are ready to weather the storm and stay behind while others evacuate to ensure that emergency services stay in communication and operational. 

The week ended with a special Carolina Day celebration Saturday. Twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, living history volunteers of the Revolutionary War put on a live (blank) cannon demonstration to commemorate the battle of Sullivan's Island. Chief Byrnes and I roamed the area and kept watch on the beach nearby, giving sun-bathers a heads-up before the "boom", and making sure no one came in to the 'fire' area. Fort Moultrie took on a little bit of the look it must've had so long ago, with white tents pitched up and men in era-appropriate uniforms.