AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Like Tropical Storm Debby before it, Hurricane Helene has brought a boom in mosquitoes.

The full day of rain beforehand and heavy rain during the Sept. 27 storm have created the perfect breeding conditions for the disease-carrying bloodsuckers, and they’re making their presence known.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson said at a news conference Monday that the city started spraying for them on Monday and will continue to do so.

He urged people to apply insect repellent before going outside.

Standing water is just the kind of place mosquitoes want to lay eggs.

It’s likely to be a problem across the CSRA.

“Mosquitoes can lay eggs in small amounts of water, so it’s very important to get rid of standing water that can accumulate in buckets, flowerpots, grill covers, tires, trashcan lids, toys and yard decorations or debris,” said Dr. Chris Evans, South Carolina state public health entomologist. “Using dirt or cement to fill in low places such as tire ruts or puddles is important to prevent those areas from accumulating storm water. Removing or preventing standing water are some of the most effective ways to reduce mosquito populations at home and in your community, which in turn reduces the risk for disease spread through their bites.”

Mosquitoes aren’t just irritating; they’re a disease-carrying public health risk:

• Perhaps the best known disease they carry is West Nile virus.
• Mosquito-spread dengue fever is already on the rise across the region.
• Mosquitoes carry heartworms, which are endemic in the region, endangering the lives of beloved family pets.

There are at least 61 different species of mosquitoes in the region, but not all of them bite people, Evans said.

All about mosquitoes

Here’s what the experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say about the pests:

Mosquito bite signs

• A puffy and reddish bump appearing a few minutes after the bite
• A hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, or multiple bumps appearing a day or so after the bite or bites
• Small blisters instead of hard bumps
• Dark spots that look like bruises

Severe reactions can occur

• In children
• In adults bitten by mosquito species they haven’t been exposed to previously
• In people with immune system disorders

More severe reactions

• A large area of swelling and redness
• Low-grade fever
• Hives
• Swollen lymph nodes

Infected bite

• Do not scratch bites. They can become infected.
• An infected bite may appear red, feel warm, or a red streak may spread outward from the bite.
• See a health care provider if symptoms worsen.

Prevention

• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.
• Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
• For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
• Fill tree holes to prevent them from filling with water.
• Repair cracks or gaps in your septic tank if you have one. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
• Use larvicides to treat large bodies of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped out.
• When using larvicides, always follow label instructions.
• Drain and turn over kiddie pools.
• Use an outdoor adulticide to kill adult mosquitoes in areas where they rest.
• Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture or under the carport or garage.
• When using adulticides, always follow label instructions.
• Install or repair and use window and door screens.
• Close doors, including garage doors. Do not leave doors propped open.
• Use air conditioning when possible.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Traffic was snagged on I-20 near mile marker 8 in South Carolina Monday night.

According to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, the heavy law enforcement presence was caused by a stolen police car from Lexington County.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Hurricane debris removal has gotten underway early.

It was scheduled to start Monday, but officials said they decided to start Sunday night, when crews moved about 20 loads.

Augusta officials gave an update on the process Monday afternoon during a news conference.

They said they’re starting with about 15 trucks that will visit every street in the city to pick up debris scattered by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27.

In some areas, they’ll pass two, three or four times in an effort to pick up all the debris people have left for them to pick up.

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The city has a deadline of 90 days to make a good-faith effort to get the mess cleaned up. In return, the federal government will reimburse Augusta for 100% of the cost.

City officials say it took 47 days to clean up the 870,000 cubic yards of debris from an infamous ice storm a decade ago.

Right now, the crews are starting in areas south of Gordon Highway and in heavily hit areas, then they’ll radiate outward from there.

One priority will be clearing routes that lead to hospitals. Also on the list are trees leaning over a road.

Heavily treed central parts of Augusta could be a challenge.

“It’s hit hard, and we’re gonna be busy,” said Steve Castle with contractor ISM.

Officials say there are two debris management sides, and they want folks to stay away from them because of the number of trucks going in and out.

Officials say the debris pickup is free.

You’ll need to leave it by the curb, on the right-of-way but not in the street.

And make sure you leave space for your garbage and recycling carts.

Don’t mix household garbage or construction debris with the vegetation waste from the storm, officials say.

And officials say not to burn the debris – not just for safety reasons but also for air quality.

The contractor will make multiple passes through the city, and GPS tracking will ensure every street is driven.

So if they don’t get everything on the first pass in front of your house, don’t worry.

If it wasn’t for the kindness of neighbors, Augusta resident Paulette Edery and her family would still be trapped in their home.

“You couldn’t get out,” said Edery.

This left Edery stopped in her tracks

“We had all these trees on the street here, then all the trees of the other house on the street and the one across was horrible. You couldn’t see anything, absolutely nothing. Just trees, one on top of the other,” she said.

The same story is told street after street.

“We were trapped from right, left, back and front,” said Edery. “Thankfully our neighbor and his wife had been helping us the next morning to start chopping just to be able to get out.”

There’s a lot to clean up, but Edery says that is the least of her worries.

“Listen, I’m a fighter. I’m not a quitter. At this point, we cannot let Mother Nature put us down, and we need to keep on going and moving and make the best of what happened to us,” she said.

Even with all of the devastation, Edery says she’s thankful.

“I say, thank you, God, the most important for me. Even if my house had got damaged, as long as I’m alive with my family the next morning, I’m very thankful,” she said.

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