• Establish baseline data for mosquito population density to verify the hazard as soon as a potential threat is identified. Data are valid for two weeks only.
  • Finalize protocols and hire or train individuals to trap mosquitoes, perform landing rate counts, document mosquito complaint calls and their origin (for adulticide use), and collect mosquito larvae dip data (for larvicide use) to verify the hazard before spraying begins.
  • Baseline data can be obtained by using:
    • In-house equipment and staff
    • Out-sourced services with neighboring municipalities
      • Create a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a local city, county, or neighboring county/city or utilize the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement.
    • A mosquito control contractor acquired through a county, multi-county, or state contract or by submitting a resource request to State Emergency Management when local resources have been exhausted.
• Prioritize locations that need to be surveyed and develop a schedule for visiting them.
  • Identify low-lying areas. Inspect ditches/watersheds for blockages.
  • Pre-treat areas with a backpack blower – granular product with a long residual.
• Increase personal protection messaging and encourage the use of insect repellents.
• Draw polygons on county maps of places that could/would be sprayed.
  • Focus on populated areas. Keep in mind you won’t be able to spray, nor should you, the entire county. 
  • Draw short, fat polygons that are easier than long, skinny ones to execute by air.
• Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) Point of Contact (FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov) to identify spray exclusion areas due to wildlife refuges or the presence of endangered, threatened, or critical habitat.
  • State and federal wildlife refuges require special permits to spray there regardless of who is paying. The federal government must comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Preparing spray maps ahead of time (regardless of the surveillance data) is important to compare them to endangered species maps. Performing this step ahead of time will mean you can begin spraying much quicker where needed.
• Put contingency spray contracts (aerial, ground, or both) in place so you are ready to go once the surveillance data and ESA consultations are complete.

• Insecticide formulations must be:
  • Approved and registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in urban areas for mosquito control.
  • Applied according to label directions and precautions. 
  • Applied by appropriately trained and certified applicators.
• Mosquito abatement measures must comply with all federal, state, territorial, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations concerning vector control.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s label on EPA-approved chemicals for mosquito abatement by certified employees. The pesticide also must be registered in SC by the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation.
  • For aerial spraying, consult the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation to make sure the plane and pilot are in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations of the South Carolina Pesticide Control Act.
• You must be an Eligible Applicant as defined in the Public Assistance Program Policy Guide. The four basic components of eligibility are applicant, facility, work and cost.
  • An applicant must be a state, territory, tribe, local government or private nonprofit organization.
  • A facility must be a building, public works system, equipment or natural feature.
  • Work is categorized as either "emergency" or "permanent." It must be required because of the declared incident, located within the designated disaster area, and is the legal responsibility of the applicant. Emergency work includes mosquito abatement.
  • Cost is the funding tied directly to eligible work, and must be adequately documented, authorized, necessary and reasonable. Eligible costs include labor, equipment, materials, contract work, as well as direct and indirect administrative costs.
• You must have the legal responsibility to perform mosquito abatement. You must have jurisdiction over the area or have the legal authority to conduct the work related to the request at the time of the incident.

FEMA only provides Public Assistance funding for the increased cost of mosquito abatement, that is, the amount that exceeds the average amount based on the last three years of expenses for the same period.

• Register on the FEMA Grants Portal: https://grantee.fema.gov/
• Provide a written letter to request FEMA Public Assistance on your official letterhead. The letter must demonstrate your eligibility for assistance and validate that a mosquito population poses either a serious health threat or a mosquito nuisance that is severely hampering the recovery effort.
• Submit your request letter to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD). SCEMD reviews and validates the request and then forwards the request to FEMA for approval. To expedite your request, send your letter by e-mail to the Director of Emergency Management (PA@emd.sc.gov) or mail to SC Emergency Management Division, ATTN: Director, 2779 Fish Hatchery Rd, West Columbia, SC, 29172.
• Provide scientifically backed details about specific areas that have been impacted by the disaster. A general statement about county-wide flooding and mosquito problems will not suffice. FEMA consults with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine the eligibility of mosquito abatement activities.
• To assist FEMA in assessing needs, provide information such as:
  • Extent, amount, and type of flooding (e.g., saltwater/freshwater and coastal/inland)
  • Extent, location, and anticipated duration of power interruption
  • Extent  and location of damage to housing
  • Anticipated extent and duration of cleanup and recovery operations
• Describe the locations and types of mosquito management performed
  • Areas where intervention were needed
  • Aerial or ground-based adulticide applications
  • Breeding habitat removal or alteration
  • Dissemination of information to direct residents to remove mosquito-breeding habitats
  • Duration of the insecticide application to reduce the threat
• For insecticide applications, provide
  • Documentation of the chemical, application method, and concentration used.
  • Adulticide or larvicide area maps detailing the zones affected/treated.
  • Date(s) of the insecticide application.
  • Cost for pesticides compared to the average cost of pesticides in the 3 years prior for the same location and time frame.
• Provide support for at least one of three findings:
  • More disease-transmitting mosquitoes
  • Biting mosquitoes hamper response/recovery efforts
  • Increased mosquito-related infections in the public

The evidence needed to support these findings is as follows:

OR

OR

• Three-year average pre-storm data are expected from jurisdictions with a mosquito control program
  • These data are important during the summer when mosquito numbers are high anyway, but they are not as important during the fall when mosquito numbers should be dwindling.
• Three-year average pre-storm data are not expected from jurisdictions without a mosquito control program
  • Pre-storm mosquito data are important, although these data are not expected to exist.
  • The jurisdiction must document mosquito population density before and after treatment by using landing rate counts, mosquito trap counts, or numbers and origins of mosquito complaint calls.

• For vector control resources (once local and county-to-county resources have been exhausted), contact your local Emergency Management office to submit a resource request to the State Emergency Management office. 
• For technical information on mosquito surveillance and control methods, contact: 
  • Mosquito control services: Mosquito control service providers (pdf)
  • Mosquito control services that perform mosquito trapping and landing rate counts: Clarke®; Gregory Pest Solutions®; Mosquito Authority®; Vector Disease Control International®
  • Mosquito surveillance suppliers: Azelis®;BioEquipment LLC® (Pabiotechnology); Clarke®; John W. Hock®
  • Pesticide and licensing: Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation; (864) 646-2150