One effect from storm damage, and especially flooding, is the increase of pests and other unwanted wild animals in and around homes. The main thing to remember is that insects and small animals need shelter just like the rest of us. When it floods and their habitats are destroyed, they will naturally seek out shelter to protect themselves from the elements. Unfortunately, the shelter they will try to find could be your home.
There are many things you can do to reduce or completely eliminate unwanted pests from entering your home, including:
- Provide a chemical barrier around your home. Apply an insecticide around the perimeter of your home so that the chemical will absorb into the exoskeleton of the insect as they crawl over this invisible barrier.
- Clean up. It may seem like common sense, but it is important to take some time and effort to clean up any sort of food that may attract insects (such as ants) into your home. We often find that crumbs and other bits of food often fall behind stoves and under fridges, especially if you have children. Ensure that surfaces are always wiped properly and clean up spilt juice and other forms of liquid quickly to ensure that insects are not attracted to the often sugary substance. Make a habit of taking the rubbish out on a regular basis. Many pest problems, even under normal circumstances (not during a natural disaster) are because of old food being kept inside the home because the bin has not been emptied for quite some time. Next, pull out your trusty vacuum cleaner and use it to clean up all the areas of your home, especially if you find things like spider webs and other signs of a bug infestation. Remember that clutter around the house only encourages insects (like spiders) to take up residence as they feel protected and isolated in amongst all the junk.
- Deal with moisture and leaks. Insects love moisture. Spiders, in particular, like to set up webs in areas where there is a lot of moisture because they know it will attract other insects which end up being their next meal. The smallest amount of moisture can sustain a colony of ants for a long period of time. Make sure that high moisture areas are well ventilated to prevent the build-up of moisture. Of course, your primary concern will probably be to drain any water out your home. But once the majority of it has been removed, you can use heat and good ventilation to speed up the drying out process. Other water damage to your home may have caused by leaks in cracked and broken pipes. These will need to be fixed first before you can begin drying out your home.
Insects arent the only things that need to be considered during a natural disaster. When flooding and hurricanes occur, the rising waters force small, wild animals such as rats, raccoons, squirrels, possums and snakes to seek higher ground in order to survive. Unfortunately, this often means that they find their way into your homes and into your living areas which is both an inconvenience and a potential danger! Please call us to help with your rodent control problem or pest control problem; we would be delighted to help.