THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 4 p.m.) – Nightly aerial mosquito spraying is taking place in the region including The Woodlands this week as mosquito populations have increased significantly due to flooding from Hurricane Harvey.
The Woodlands Township continues to aid and work with partners in order to help residents in the hardest hit areas of The Woodlands and to help all of The Woodlands get back to normal. This update includes the Township’s most updated information about recycling, mosquito spraying and other items.
The Woodlands Township has been fully activated for over three weeks in response to Hurricane Harvey. The Township has coordinated emergency public information with county and partner agencies. This approach has served as a one-stop shop for the media who has helped disseminate public safety messages and updates.
Today marks the last distributed update regarding the storm. The Township will post new information to the Harvey Updates as it becomes available.
MOSQUITO SPRAYING
Mosquito populations have increased significantly throughout southeast Texas due to the flooding from Hurricane Harvey. To address this, the State and Federal Government are conducting aerial spraying in Harris, Montgomery, and Liberty Counties between September 14 and September 20, 2017, weather permitting. Aerial spraying has begun in The Woodlands Township and will continue tonight, Tuesday, September 19, 2017, through Wednesday, September 20, 2017, weather permitting. There is a potential to go later in the week if there are weather delays. Spraying will occur in different sections of The Woodlands each night. Currently, only one aerial treatment is scheduled for each section. An update will be posted when spraying is complete. For more information about specifics, please scroll to the end of this news release.
FEMA RUMORS
The Township has learned that some individuals may be going door to door asking residents to pay for debris removal and then indicating that they will be reimbursed at a late date by a FEMA voucher. We believe that this is a scam, unable to find such a FEMA voucher system for debris removal. The County FEMA debris contractors and the Township Waste Management contractors provide the service at no cost to the resident and will not ask residents for payment.
UPDATE REGARDING DEBRIS COLLECTION
The first of the Township’s contracted debris removal in the Village of Creekside Park through Waste Management has been substantially completed. The Township’s contractor will make a second pass cycle beginning in Timarron Lakes. Residents must have all debris moved to be within 12 feet of the curb.
The Harris County FEMA debris removal contractors have begun collecting debris in The Woodlands Township in the Village of Creekside Park and will complete the remainder of the first pass and then continue with a second pass beginning in Timarron. Residents must register with Harris County for debris removal as they expect to make several passes throughout the county over the next several weeks and may replace the Township’s contracted service. Here is the number to register:
713-274-3880 for Harris County debris removal
A temporary debris drop off site has been established at Wendtwoods Park, 8950 Creekside Green Dr., by the community gardens and soccer field. The debris site is self service and open to Creekside residents Monday 9/18 through Sunday, 9/24, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
For Harris County clean-up assistance, please contact CrisisCleanup.org, visit HarrisRecovery.org, or call 1-800-451-1954 to report your need.
TRASH AND RECYCLING
Residential trash and recycling services resumed on Monday, September 11, 2017. Due to heavy accumulations of recycling, many residential routes were delayed last week. However, all routes were completed by the end of Saturday, Sept 16, 2017. If your trash or recycling was not serviced this past week, please contact Waste Management Customer Service at 1-800-800-5804 to request return service. Interruptions or delays are not expected the week of Sept 18, 2017.
The Recycling Center at 5402 Research Forest Drive is maintaining normal operating hours: Wednesdays, 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Simple Recycling for curbside textile recycling is now servicing all routes in The Woodlands on their normal solid waste service day.
The Precinct 3 Recycling Center, 1122 Pruitt Road, is maintaining normal operating hours: Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Precinct 3 Recycle Center will remain open during normal Saturday business hours and will NOT be accepting flood debris.
COUNTY PRESS RELEASES
Depending on your county of residence, access the latest information from:
- Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, or
- Harris County Public Health
FEMA—Be sure you are registered with FEMA if you have had storm damage
Please view a collection of links from FEMA to address concerns on registering for assistance, applying for loans, tips on how to save damaged family and personal treasures, renters help and other helpful information from FEMA.
Please be sure to register with FEMA if you have suffered any damage or been impacted by Harvey. The Township has received notice of the President’s FEMA Declaration for Montgomery and Harris Counties. This declaration will allow county governments to initiate debris removal programs and provide reimbursement of certain emergency expenses incurred by local government during the emergency and will allow individuals to start filing for emergency assistance.
Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Constituents may call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), please call 1-800-621-3362.
Beware of Rumors, Misinformation and Fraud
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is raising awareness that Hurricane Harvey disaster survivors, and their friends and family, must be alert for false rumors, scams, identity theft and fraud. Although many Americans are working hard to help their neighbors now, during chaotic times, some will always try to take advantage of the most vulnerable.
To dispel some of the false rumors circulating on the internet and social media, FEMA created a dedicated website to address some of the most common themes. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Township and Harris County have received reports of fraudulent contractors charging to remove debris, claiming residents will be reimbursed by FEMA. This is FALSE.
Visit https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey-rumor-control to get the most accurate information from trusted sources.
Montgomery County debris removal underway
The Montgomery County Commissioners Court hired contractors using FEMA resources to provide debris pickup throughout flood-damaged areas of Montgomery County. The FEMA debris contractors are presently working throughout the county in flood-damaged areas.
Montgomery County Precinct 3 (Commissioner Noack) crews are also removing debris from residential areas in Precinct 3, which includes a large portion of The Woodlands Township. Commissioner Noack is using his Precinct crews and equipment to expedite the debris removal effort.
For more information on debris removal in Montgomery County, please go to the Montgomery County website at http://mctxoem.org/. At this page, you can find a link for Debris Pickup. Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management asks that if you have debris due to Hurricane Harvey to register under Debris Pickup and Damage Report at www.mctxoem.org.
If you received damage to your home or property, and haven’t done so already, register with
FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. If you have any questions, concerns or
need assistance in registering with FEMA or debris pickup and damage reports, please call 936-523-3916.
INFORMATION FROM MUD 386
Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386 customers in Creekside Park and Carlton Woods at Creekside are asked to voluntarily reduce irrigation from three times per week to two times per week. The cooler evening temperatures now being experienced helps make it easier to maintain lawns. Please share this information with your neighbors and encourage them to reprogram irrigation controllers. Register to receive emergency alerts at http://www.municipaldistrictservices.com/notices.html.
VOLUNTEERING AND SUPPLIES
The Township has received word that all volunteer shelters in Montgomery County are now closed. Please visit www.woodlandsinterfaith.org to learn more about donations and volunteer opportunities in The Woodlands. Interfaith will need volunteers throughout the next week.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT MOSQUITO SPRAYING
The most up-to-date information is provided by The Texas Department of State Health Services
http://dshs.texas.gov/news/updates.shtm
They have an extensive explanation of aerial spraying here http://dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2017/Questions-AerialMosquitoControl.aspx
In Summary:
- Spray operations are coordinated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD) utilizing large Air Force C-130 airplanes flying at low elevation – 300 ft.
- Spraying is done between dusk and dawn when most mosquitoes are more active and to limit impact on beneficial insects like bees.
- Planes will also fly during daytime hours to assess their flight paths. Daytime flights will NOT spray insecticide.
- Planes are equipped with nozzles that create micro-droplets of insecticide that float in the air and kill mosquitoes on contact.
- Naled (Dibrom) is the product that will be used.
- Naled is an EPA-registered insecticide and does not pose a health risk to children or adults when applied according to label instructions.
- A small amount of active ingredient is sprayed over a large area. Application rate is less than 1 oz (1.5 tablespoons) per acre.
- It is approved for application directly to food crops at higher rates than those used for mosquito control.
- Micro-droplets degrade rapidly when exposed to sunlight or water.
- Because naled is an insecticide, invertebrates such as insects and spiders could be affected. Long-term negative effects on exposed pets and small wildlife are not expected. Risks to wildlife are minimal.
- The State and Counties suggest that residents who are concerned about exposure to aerial spraying stay indoors during the evening aerial application.
- For more in-depth information consult the EPA information on Naled: https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/naledmosquito-control##1
- Aerial spraying targets flood plain mosquitoes. These mosquitoes proliferate in such large numbers after flood events that they can severely impact recovery efforts and quality of life. These mosquitoes generally do not carry disease.
- Remaining stagnant water will soon cause an increase in mosquitoes that can spread diseases like West Nile virus. Please take precautions to protect yourself and your family including emptying all standing water around your home each week, wearing EPA-approved repellant, and limiting outdoor activity at dawn and dusk.
MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov and follow the Harvey Recovery Updates. You can also keep up through the Township’s Facebook and Twitter channels, or sign up for the Township’s Talk of the Township enewsletter at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/notifyme.