Hurricane Preparation Should Include Pest Prep, Too
When most south Florida homeowners think of storm preparedness, they typically think of checking shutters, readying flashlights, fueling generators, and preparing evacuation plans. While these are all vital steps in readying and protecting the home, it’s important to remember that heavy rain, flooding, storm debris, and power outages can all create ideal conditions for later pest surges and infestations. These pests don’t appear out of nowhere, and their behavior is a direct result of the storm and its aftermath. In this blog post, we’ll review a practical checklist that homeowners can run through before tropical storms or hurricanes arrive and a post-storm inspection list, so homeowners can reduce the likelihood of pest surges after the storm.
Why Storms Increase Pest Pressures Around Florida Homes
There are several interconnected reasons that storms in particular can lead to subsequent surges in local pest populations. The heavy rain and flooding that come with summer storms displaces many pests out of the mulch, drains, leaf litter, sheds, and palm trees where they’re usually found. Rodents and cockroaches might start encroaching indoors, looking for dryer and less compromised spaces to shelter. Mosquito populations can explode after storms, when rainwater collects in containers, gutters, pool covers, tarps, and among yard debris. If there’s power outages, it can result in delayed cleanups and food spoilage, which can attract ants, flies, roaches and rodents. Damage to the home such as wet building materials, damaged trims and screening, and new gaps in the foundation or roofline can all now create easier access and harborage for a wide range of pests.
Pre-Storm Checklist for Pest Preparedness
The following are some basic but effective checks and action items to incorporate into your other standard storm preparations. They’ll greatly reduce the chances or overall impact of any post-storm pest pressures.
Pre-Storm Checklist Item #1: Seal the Home Before Repairs Get Harder
Pests often infiltrate through even the smallest of gaps and cracks in the home. If there are any gaps to find and seal up, now is the time to do so, before the aftermath of the storm has increased the size of the gap or created conditions making it harder to repair. Before the storm arrives, check places like:
- Door gaps and thresholds
- Worn garage seals
- Damaged window sills, frames, and screens
- Utility line entrances
- Soffit and fascia cracks/gaps
- Cracks in the foundation
- Gaps around AC lines and plumbing
If you spot cracks or gaps in any of these places, take the time to seal them up before the storm arrives, because they’ll be much harder to fix later.
Pre-Storm Checklist Item #2: Clean Up the Yard and Reduce Clutter
After you’ve given a general perimeter check to the home, the next step is to do the same for your lawn and yard. Experts at the University of Florida recommend a thorough yard sweep as part of pre-storm preparations to limit pest issues. Take the time to trim overgrown tree branches and vegetation away from the roofline and exterior walls. These can later be travel paths for displaced pests, so trimming the back now will remove those access points. Go through the yard and remove any clutter or debris: leaf litter, fallen branches or palm fronds, gardening equipment and children’s toys. Overturn or seal bins, buckets, or anything that could collect rainwater. Empty or cover bird baths, tarps, and pool covers. This will prevent water from collecting, which could later serve as hydration sources for pests and breeding spots for mosquitos.
Pre-Storm Checklist Item #3: Secure Food, Trash, and Pet Supplies
Besides standing water, you’ll also want to take care of potential food attractants. Spoiled food can quickly attract a range of unwanted pests. Store away pantry food, pet food, and bird seed in sealed containers. If there’s any bulk pantry items stored in places like closets or garages, you should try to remove them off the floor and store them in a more elevated location. If you have an outdoor grill or cooking station, take the time to clean out the grease traps and wipe down the area. Check your garbage cans and compost bins and make sure their lids are well-secured.
Pre-Storm Checklist Item #4: Rodent-Proof Attics, Rooflines, and Garages
While some pests are “ground-level” infiltrators, rodents in particular excel at getting into your home from higher spots. They’re natural climbers and they often seek higher, drier spots after storms. Check your general roof line for gaps or cracks, as well as your attic vents, soffits, and roof returns.Trim tree branches away from the roofline, so roof rats and other rodents can’t use them to get onto your roof. Remove any fallen fruit, trash or pet food that may attract rodents to your property.
Post-Storm Inspection: What To Check Once the Storm Clears
Once the storm has fully cleared out and it’s safe to go outside again, take a general inspection of the house and yard. Displaced pests will soon become more active and on the move. You’ll want to check many of the same spots you did with the pre-storm checks:
- Attics
- Foundations and crawl spaces
- Soffits and rooflines
- Damaged window/door trim or screening
- Wet drywall, wood or other building materials
- Trash areas
- Remaining standing water that’s collected
If you spot gaps or cracks that’ve appeared since the pre-storm checks, try to seal them up in a timely manner. If there’s any trash or debris strewn across the yard, clean it up promptly. Find and tip over any places where water has collected. Be on the lookout for visible signs of pest activity such as:
- Droppings
- Claw marks or gnawing
- Scratching noises
- Ant trails
- Mosquito swarms
- Roach sightings
If you spot any of the signs above, take quick and effective action to limit the pest pressures, before they become bigger issues.
A Little Pest Prep Makes Storm Recoveries Easier
If you live in south Florida, you know dealing with storms and hurricanes are just part of life here. But that doesn’t mean you have to make them any more stressful by having to deal with pest problems afterwards, particularly if you’re dealing with other repairs or post-storm concerns. Pest prevention may not be the first thing that homeowners have in mind when they’re thinking of storm preparation, but they do go hand-in-hand together. If you can reduce entry points and the food and water attractants the pests need, you can effectively limit the pressures you’ll face from displaced pests and critters.
Of course, if you feel you could still use a bit more due diligence and peace-of-mind, you can always contact a local pest control company. Here at Nozzle Nolen, we’re experts at knowing how climate and weather events like storms influence pest activity. We can provide professional rodent inspection, exclusion, and control before or after a storm, as well as mosquito control and standing-water prevention. You can also always visit our website and schedule a free initial inspection and consultation.
