Below are some items that are beneficial for mosquito prevention which can be packed in a go-kit or stored as part of your Hurricane Preparedness Plan.

• EPA-registered repellents
  • Check that repellents are not expired or leaking. 
• Heartworm prevention for pets
• Backup power supplies for devices
  • Generators or backup batteries
• Bed netting
  • Bed netting is recommended for children under the age of 2 in lieu of repellents.
• Fans, particularly battery powered
  • Place near open windows to keep bugs out.
• Window screen repair kits
• Turkey baster 
  • A turkey baster is the perfect tool to check standing water for mosquito larva. Label and keep separate from kitchen utensils used for food. 
• Yard waste disposal bags
• BTI, or mosquito larvicide
  • Can be applied to stagnant water to control larval mosquitoes. Do not apply to moving water, or water that will be used for cleaning, cooking, or bathing. 
• Clothing that protects against bites
  • Long, Loose-fitting, Light colored clothing is the best at reducing bites. 
• Shoe storage or shoe odor removers
  • Shoes can hold onto odors that can attract mosquitoes. Don't keep shoes near doors, and keep them in closed storage to prevent attracting mosquitoes. 
  • Even simple repurposed grocery bags tied shut help to trap odors.

Be ready: sign up for notifications at www.AlertSarasotaCounty.com 

• Customizable alert settings

• Call, text, email

  • As part of the Emergency Alert System, calls and texts can be received even without cell service. 

Aerial (plane) and ground (truck) missions are determined using multiple factors. Size of area, road network availability, target mosquito species, and mosquito population and disease surveillance. 

Because each storm brings unique challenges, situations may occur which may affect application methods. Roadways that are washed out or flooded may be inaccessible to trucks. 

Residents in storm-affected areas that may have sustained damages or loss of power may have windows open. These residents may have concerns about mosquito treatment applications.

While we understand the concerns residents may have, it is very important to remember that applications are done at an Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) rate and are consistent with the EPA guidelines to pose minimal risk to humans. The minimal exposure to pesticides is often outweighed by the risk of mosquito-borne disease. 

It is important to monitor the Mosquito Management website, social media, and utilize automatic notifications to know if or when your area may be treated. This can help allow citizens plan to close windows or relocate indoors during treatment. 

The pesticides used by Mosquito Management have been tested by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. When applied by the label rate, they kill mosquitoes without posing unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. Applications follow the label instructions and EPA guidelines. The application rate is roughly about 1 teaspoon per acre, which is enough to target small insects but has minimal to no risk to larger organisms like people. Visit our Planned Spray Mission Map for more details about spray time, pesticide applied and treatment location. 

For information on what pesticides are used, please visit the Approved Pesticide List. 

During the daytime, Mosquito Management staff are spraying ditches with Bti. Bti is a naturally occurring soil bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israielsis  that will not harm people, animals, other insects or plants.  It's an environmentally safe, biological control pesticide that only targets mosquitoes. BTI will reduce future generations of mosquitoes, but it cannot control adult mosquitoes. Other products such as mineral oils or mosquitofish are also utilized. 

 For for information, please visit the Approved Pesticide List.