Mount Pleasant Magazine Documenting Covid-19

28 www.CoronavirusMag.com | www.ReadMPM.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com ready for the task of developing strategies to meet their operational goals quickly. DeMoura outlined five operational objectives, the first of which is continuity of community lifelines and critical services. This means ensuring that police and fire protection, garbage pick-up and building inspections important to public health are operational. This also entails providing support and (police) protection for hospitals, grocery stores and public utilities. Another objective is reducing the risk of public health officials’ exposure to COVID-19. A third is decreasing the risk of the community’s exposure, which has involved advising the public to follow CDC-recommended social distancing guidelines and canceling festivals and events where crowds would gather. The fourth is devising ways to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact. Remarked DeMoura, “The town has been collaborating with the business community from the beginning, partnering with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce and Lowcountry Local First.” For support and guidance during COVID-19, the town’s website details an extensive list of resources businesses can access. Additionally, before, during and after a disaster event of any kind, the town has designated staff whose primary focus is providing support to businesses and commerce. This includes Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP), which contain information on how to continue functioning amidst a natural disaster or other emergency situation. “It’s important that everyone have a strong COOP to get them through hard times,” stated DeMoura. He added that one of the emergency manager’s responsibilities is speaking with any local business that requests help developing their own COOP. While meeting operational objectives has gone smoothly, DeMoura said the hardest decision the leadership team has faced is finding the balance between public health and economics when the information they receive is in constant flux. “It’s difficult to find the right pace in this,” observed DeMoura. Another matter the leadership team has discussed is consideration of what is most important to preserve during this crisis. The answer has been twofold. “It’s maintaining public trust. It’s teamwork,” asserted DeMoura. “I aspire to be calm, to be measured, to ensure our morale is high.” One certainty is that the town’s budget will take a hit, specifically with respect to special revenues, such as hospitality taxes. In Mount Pleasant, there is a 2%