NEWS RELEASE
JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA
September 29, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AERIAL SPRAYING SCHEDULED IN THE GRAND ISLE AREA OF JEFFERSON PARISH
TO REDUCE MOSQUITO NUMBERS AFTER HURRICANE IDA
JEFFERSON, LA – Jefferson Parish and Grand Isle officials have scheduled an aerial spray operation this week for Grand Isle to help reduce the number of mosquitoes resulting from the flooding caused by Hurricane Ida. The aerial spray is scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at approximately 7 p.m. and continue until about 1 a.m., weather permitting. If a delay occurs, it will be finished on a subsequent day that is favorable for treatment.
The aerial spray operation is being conducted in response to surveillance findings that indicate increased mosquito populations and also due to the limited road accessibility in this portion of Jefferson Parish. Aerial spraying is necessary to combat and control mosquitoes where ground spraying is less accessible and effective.
Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) and its subsidiary company Mosquito Control Services (MCS) will be conducting this aerial spray operation. VDCI/ MCS holds contracts with multiple Louisiana Parishes and FEMA to provide application of adulticides on an “as-needed” basis. In 2021, VDCI has aerially treated over three million acres to control mosquitoes resulting from the floodwaters left behind by heavy rains, West Nile virus or other emergencies.
VDCI will be using multiple twin-engine aircraft flying at an altitude of approximately 300 feet to conduct the aerial application. Each aircraft is equipped with an aerial spray guidance system specifically engineered for mosquito control operations. The planes are able to receive in real-time, meteorological conditions such as temperature, wind speed and wind direction. According to Vice President of VDCI Daniel Markowski, “This onboard equipment allows us to optimize the application within the intended treatment areas, while minimizing drift outside the target zone.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires notification to the public when aerial spray operations are to occur. For additional information and/or maps of the intended spray area, contact VDCI at 800-413-4445.
For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.
###
|
Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123 |
JPALERT – SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS |
Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO |
