I touched upon the 2008 Hurricane Season in a previous entry, and at that time, all was quiet in the Atlantic Ocean. I did not address Tropical Storms specifically (the precursor to Hurricanes) and I believe most people (myself included) don’t ever expect Tropical Storms to cause that many problems.

Since that time, Tropical Storm Fay tested the patience of every resident of Florida by making landfall a record four times and dumping copious amount of rain throughout the state despite never becoming a hurricane!

In addition, with Tropical Storm Gustav just one week later threatening to become a hurricane by this weekend, I thought it was important to remind you of these helpful pest control tips when preparing a hurricane plan:

• Address low-lying areas on your property that need to be drained to properly prevent long term accumulation of standing water.

(Residents in Melbourne received 22 inches of rain in one recent 24 hour period – there are reports of standing water still wreaking havoc even one week later.)

• Seal any openings or repair damage in the roof, walls, or windows of your home to keep out insects.

(Without these seals, your home will soon become part of A Bug’s Life, Part Two.)

• Overturn plant pots, bird feeders and other containers that could create mosquito breeding grounds.

(The less likely you are to need a can of OFF! If you follow this easy step.)

• Secure any trash containers so discarded foodstuff are not scattered by the winds and become magnets for rats and other pests.

(No one wants to experience things that go scurrying in the night.

• Trim overgrown grass or shrub areas before a hurricane to prevent those areas from becoming pest refuges during and after a storm.

(In addition to protecting from pets, this can help keep tree limbs and shrubs from blowing away during a storm.)

Therefore, being aware that Tropical Storms can cause problems too is very important to any pest control prevention plan. Following the above easy steps will help assist that plan.

By the way, with college football season kicking off this weekend, I have one team I’m picking, hands-down – I love the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets over Jacksonville State Thursday August 28.

After all, I am “The Bug Guy” – who else would I root for?

Barry The Bug Guy