Pest control NYC and the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Read more to find out how Superstorm Sandy created long-term challenges for pest control NYC exterminators.
Pest Control NYC News Following Superstorm Sandy
News articles started appearing shortly after Superstorm Sandy with speculation of how the storm would affect pest control in NYC. On Wednesday, November 12th, 2012, the NPMA published their press release, “Hurricane Sandy Predicted To Have Long-Term Effects On Pest Populations“. Was their prediction correct? Identifying the most probable pests to increase in activity, the NPMA mentions rodents, flies, bed bugs, and termites.
Four months later, Yahoo News published their story, “Rat Tales Abound in NYC After Superstorm Sandy“. It seems that the pest control NYC Superstorm Sandy debate continues on. Although city-wide reports of rat infestations have not increased, areas that were flooded have seen increased rodent activity.
Jessica Lappin, the councilwoman who proposed the emergency extermination program for flood-damaged neighborhoods, said she was skeptical when she first started hearing stories about rat infestations since the storm but has come to believe the problem is real.
“We are used to seeing rats. But it definitely seemed to be getting worse,” Lappin said.
She noted that even though the health department’s citywide rat complaint numbers show no increase, there has been a rise in select Manhattan neighborhoods near where flooding occurred.
At present, the data provides only a partial view of the overall scenario. According to the article published by the New York Times on February 6, 2013, “Storm’s Toll Creeps Inland, 4 Tiny Feet at a Time“,
…violations are not going up citywide: the number of violations for rodents issued since Hurricane Sandy dropped to 1,996, compared to 2,750 for the same period the previous year. Still, the figures offer an incomplete picture. After Hurricane Sandy, as of Nov. 1, the Health Department said it stopped issuing violations for rodents in Zone A, which includes parts of all five boroughs, among them Battery Park City in Manhattan; Red Hook, Coney Island and parts of Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn; City Island in the Bronx; and the Rockaways in Queens.
What the pest control NYC community seems to be experiencing is not an overall increase in rodent activity. However, certain areas are seeing more rodent activity, such as the Lower East Side of Manhattan and the West Village. Also Brooklyn suffers from increased pest control NYC activity particularly in Carroll Gardens, Coney Island, Greenpoint, and Red Hook.
The news does not focus on significant data relating to other pests, such as flies, cockroaches, termites, or bed bugs, as of yet. Titanium Laboratories will continue to monitor the situation and inform our readers as new pest control NYC information is available.
Steps You Can Take to Prevent Pest Infestations
There are some simple steps that you can take to help prevent the increased pest infestations from entering your home or building. Whether you are in the midst of repairs, or a nearby building is undergoing construction, the disturbance can stir up pest activity. If you are in the process of rebuilding, ensure that all garbage during construction is promptly removed. In addition, communicate with your contractor to be sure their crew removes their debris following lunch breaks immediately. Wrappers that once housed a Big Mac is a very enticing scent for pests.
Inspect your building exterior for cracks and holes that may have occurred following Hurricane Sandy. Seal all voids that you find. These entry points are just what pests look for when seeking a warm place to settle in. And of course, maintain a clean, dry environment.
Should your home or building have been affected by flood waters, you may want to consider a reapplication of pest control product. Any product that was applied before the storm likely washed away, leaving your building unprotected. Contact your Pest Control NYC Exterminator to find out what products were applied and the date of your last application. If it was prior to Superstorm Sandy, then set an appointment for a preventative treatment. It’s always easier and less expensive to be proactive and prevent pest control infestations before they occur.
Have more questions? Contact Titanium Laboratories today to speak to a Pest Control NYC Professional for a free pest control consultation.
Yesteryear’s Service. Tomorrow’s Technology. Call Titanium Today!
Leave a Reply