When severe weather threatens your area, your first priority is always safety: for yourself, your family, and your employees. But once the immediate danger passes, property owners face another challenge that's often overlooked: the surge in pest activity that floods inevitably bring.
At American Pest Control, we've seen firsthand how flooding creates the perfect storm for pest invasions. Understanding how to prepare for and respond to these challenges can save you significant headaches, health risks, and repair costs down the road.
Why Floods Create Perfect Pest Conditions
Extreme weather events disrupt local ecosystems, forcing pests to seek new shelter, food sources, and breeding grounds. When their usual habitats flood, your property suddenly becomes an attractive alternative.
Flooding creates conditions pests find irresistible: standing water for breeding, moisture-damaged materials, and disrupted human activity that gives pests time to establish themselves unnoticed.
How Pests Might Take Advantage of Flooding
Mosquitoes
These disease-carrying insects pose the most immediate threat after floods. Mosquitoes breed in small amounts of standing water, with populations exploding within weeks. Even a bottle cap's worth of stagnant water becomes a breeding ground.
Rodents
Rats and mice are excellent swimmers and highly motivated to find new shelter when their burrows flood. Rodents will exploit any opening to enter your property: rats can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter.
Fire Ants
When colonies flood, fire ants form living rafts and float to higher ground. Once they reach your property, they'll aggressively defend their location while searching for a permanent new home.
Cockroaches
Large American cockroaches often enter buildings through plumbing systems. When sewer systems back up during floods, these pests seek higher ground through drains and pipes.
Flying Pests
Ground-nesting wasps and hornets lose their homes to flooding, while fungus gnats and small flies are attracted to moist conditions and mold growth from water damage.
Termites
Water-softened wood becomes easier for termites to consume, potentially turning minor flood damage into major structural problems.
Pre-Flood Prevention Strategies
The best defense starts before water rises. American Pest Control recommends scheduling a professional inspection to identify vulnerabilities specific to your property and address weak points before they become major problems.
Focus on exclusion—the most effective pest control strategy. Install door sweeps on exterior doors, ensure sliding doors have proper seals, check window screens, and cover vents and openings with mesh screening.
Preparing Your Business
Business owners should relocate stored products at least 25 feet from buildings when possible, reducing pest harborage areas. Ensure first-aid supplies are current and accessible, including epinephrine auto-injectors for those with insect allergies.
Post-Flood Action Plan
Once safe to return, act quickly to minimize pest attraction. Remove debris, trash, and damaged materials that provide perfect cover and nesting opportunities for pests. Eliminate standing water thoroughly: check plant saucers, gutters, plastic covers, and yard depressions. Mosquitoes breed in surprisingly small water sources.
Inspect low-traffic areas where pests establish themselves undisturbed. Look for droppings, chewed materials, nesting debris, or unusual staining indicating pest activity. Address water damage immediately through professional remediation. Improperly dried areas lead to ongoing mold problems that attract pests long after flooding.
The Importance of Professional Partnership
While property owners can take preventive steps independently, partnering with American Pest Control provides crucial expertise and ongoing monitoring. Our professionals identify subtle infestation signs and implement targeted treatment strategies for your specific situation.
Documenting pest activity helps our professionals track trends and adjust strategies, ensuring your property stays protected as conditions change. The investment in flood-related pest prevention pays dividends in avoided damage, reduced health risks, and faster return to normal operations. We’re here to assist you in Athens, GA, and surrounding areas!
Contact us online or call (706) 546-1490 today to schedule your pre-flood inspection and develop a pest management plan that keeps your property protected year-round.