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HurricaneFlorence

Pender County rejects aerial spraying for mosquitoes for now

PENDER COUNTY – Pender County Health and Human Services, department of Environmental Health, is actively spraying for mosquitoes following Hurricane Florence.

“We started spraying immediately,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services director. “We are using a larvicide that kills mosquito eggs and we are spraying to kill adult mosquitoes.”

Some counties are opting for aerial mosquito spraying. According to FEMA, counties using aerial spraying must meet specific requirements including restrictions on spraying state and federal managed areas, water bodies, rivers and streams, schools, organic farms, bee hives, and aquaculture sites.

“We value our beekeepers, organic farms, and our natural resources,” said Moser. “An aerial spray may not provide the targeted treatment Pender County needs right now.”

“A vector (aerial) spray would be costly,” said Moser. “The aerial spray may last four days, depending on weather, and it kills adult mosquitoes only. It doesn’t include larvicidal applications that kill mosquito eggs.”

Spraying by truck offers both the chemical and larvicidal applications. The chemical applications work for seven days.

The environmental health department started spraying as soon as the storm ended in accessible areas and increased the treatments as roads began to open to travel.

“We have received additional state funding to continue our program,” said Moser.

“However, residents can help control mosquitoes by ‘tip and toss’,” said Moser.

Tip and Toss is a process of tipping standing water in birdbaths, buckets, wading pools, old tires, and items where water gathers and becomes stagnant and tossing old items that you don’t need such as outdated children’s toys, old tires, and cans.”

“We’re addressing the mosquito problem,” said Moser. “We are spraying all areas of the county, four hours in the morning and four hours in the evening.”

Watch Pender County’s website at pendercountync.gov or Pender County’s Facebook page for storm recovery updates. Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.

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Worried About Mosquitoes? Remember to Tip, Toss and Cover…

ONCE A WEEK…
TIP CONTAINERS- drain standing water from garbage cans, pet bowls, birdbaths, flower pots, gutters, pool covers or any other container that has collected standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water.
TOSS- old tires, drums, bottles and other outdoor items that are outside and are not being used.
EMPTY AND SCRUB-birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.

ONCE A MONTH…
MAINTAIN– apply a larvicide to standing water that cannot be emptied or drained. Larvicides can be found at home improvement and hardware stores.

COVER YOUR SKIN WITH…
CLOTHING: Wear long, loose, and light colored clothing and shoes and socks.
REPELLENT: Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Always use repellents according to the label.

For more information contact Pender County Health Department Mosquito Control Division
910-259-1326

Please see the following flyers and click the links below for a printer friendly version:

English Flyer

Mosquito hanger ENG

 

Spanish Flyer

Mosquito hangerSPAN
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