2024 Hurricane Debby Impacts on The USA
No one wants to get caught in a major natural disaster. Thinking about losing possessions or even your home is in the back of your mind when you hear a warning blare over the radio or pop up on your phone. From needing an evacuation for your family and pets to what you would do if you had to repair or replace anything after the fact, there is a list swirling in your head in the event of extreme weather.
If you live in an area where hurricanes are commonplace, you know what flash flooding can do to your city in minutes and how dangerous that makes the roads. But something you might not think about in the heat of the moment (or even after) is how a hurricane affects the mosquito and insect population.
Insects and Hurricanes
Think about what happens after a regular rainy day. Now, think about what happens if you step out in your yard after a rain on a humid day. Can you feel the bugs biting and buzzing around your head already?
Take that and multiply it by hurricane-level proportions. Setting up pest control may not be what you initially put on your list of to-dos after a hurricane. But when you take a deeper dive, like what happened across the U.S. once Hurricane Debbie was finished, you might think about how you want to carry on after the next one comes through.
Hurricanes not only create crazy winds, some of the worst thunderstorms you may have seen, or a heavy downpour of rain, but they also give insects the absolute ideal living conditions. Certain bugs and insects thrive in damp, wet, water-logged conditions. Anyone who has ever lived in the Midwest during the summer knows about staying inside after a rainstorm.
Before the bugs take over your yard, you may notice them inviting themselves into your home. As much as bugs should stay outside, they want to come in to get out of the worst of the weather conditions like you do. If you see an influx of bugs trying to get into your home, they know what's coming.
Why Mosquitos Love a Hurricane
Certain bugs do better in the conditions left by a hurricane, but none love a good one more than mosquitos. The dreaded mosquito is a fan favorite of all the puddles and sitting water. You will see a huge increase in these pesky guys during hurricane season.
Mosquitos become such a problem after a hurricane because they can lay 700 to over one million eggs in the right watery conditions. Yes, our skin is itching just thinking about that. The floodwater makes a great spot to dump eggs and let them hatch during the next hurricane season, which is why you need to immediately drain any standing water after any rainfall.
Other Bugs To Watch Out For
Ants
These creatures want nothing to do with the water, so if a hurricane is coming through, you may notice an uptick of ants inside your home as they try to find shelter.
Cockroaches
These indestructible guys follow the same thought process as ants. They want out of the water's path.
Hurricane Debby and Bugs
The Southeastern U.S. was hit with river flooding and flash floods from Hurricane Debby. By August 9, residents along Vermont all the way down to South Carolina were under these warnings. That's more than 35 million residents who were affected.
In South Carolina, places like Charleston recorded 15 inches of rain, and Berkeley County was hit with 14 inches for the week. When you think about all that water, infrastructures may not be able to handle it all at once so quickly, and that means a feast of opportunities for bugs and mosquitos.
Hurricane Season Isn't Over
This won't be the last hurricane we see to make bug dreams come true. The season lasts until November 30, and it is predicted that this one only has a 10% chance of staying within the normal range. Unfortunately for humans, there is an 85% chance this hurricane season will be above normal.
In addition to that, ocean temps in the Atlantic are near-record warm, which favors a tropical storm formation. But knowing that, you could set yourself up for pest control in advance to make sure at least your yard and home can return to normal.
Hurricanes Don't Create More Bugs
Don't think that a hurricane magically creates more bugs for you to deal with. In addition to other wildlife and people, tropical storms displace these insects. They want to seek shelter and stay safe like we do, and the winds and rains push them where they normally wouldn't go.
Treat For Bugs After Rain
Whether you have flash flooding, tropical thunderstorms, or heavy rainfall, you should treat your home after wet weather conditions if bugs and mosquitos are a problem. But don't treat before the storm hits, as the treatments could get washed away or not stick properly during the rain. It's best to let a professional determine the right time to come back after the storm has passed and apply treatment.
We hope you never have to deal with hurricanes or flash flooding, but if you do, know mosquitos will be the main character in the equation. You will notice other bugs trying to take advantage of the water or simply wanting to avoid it like any sane person would. If that doesn't sound like a good time to you, once everyone is safe and dry, call a professional in to take care of those unwanted house and yard guests.
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