Hurricane Dolly passed through here several days ago but the citizens of the Rio Grande Valley are still feeling the effects of the category two hurricane. The initial electricity problems have been mostly resolved. Fallen trees, like the four or five affected trees at my house, are slowly being resolved by most homeowners. One of the remnants that is a persistent irritant and health hazard are the millions of mosquitoes that are tormenting local citizens.
Today I flew over much of the Valley and witnessed first hand the substantial amounts of standing water that has yet to be absorbed by the land or the air. These circumstances have made a fertile environment for the mosquitoes.
Officials recently announced that as early as tonight and no later than Monday that spraying for the mosquitoes would begin. Officials said spraying is expected to take five to six days.
According to the Monitor:
"Chicago-based Clarke Mosquito Control will use the chemical Dibrom, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers safe when used properly for mosquito control.
When EPA guidelines are followed, the concentration released during aerial spraying should not harm humans. The chemical is extremely toxic to insects, including those considered beneficial such as honey bees, according to the EPA Web site.
The spraying is intended to reduce the proliferation of mosquitoes that is hampering recovery efforts and to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses such as St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile infection after heavy rains and flooding in the Rio Grande Valley following Hurricane Dolly."
Here is a press release on the mosquito eradication efforts.