What to Do to Protect Yourself From Animals After a Disaster

General tips

• Avoid wild or stray animals.
• Call local authorities to handle animals.
• Secure all food sources and remove any animal carcasses.
• Get rid of dead animals, according to guidelines from your local animal control authority, as soon as you can. See Safety Guidelines: Disposing of Dead Animals for answers to frequently asked questions.

Prevent mosquito bites

Key facts about mosquitoes after a disaster:

• Adult mosquitoes do not generally survive high winds during a hurricane.
• Immediately following a hurricane, flooding occurs. Mosquito eggs laid in the soil by floodwater mosquitoes during previous floods hatch. This results in very large populations of floodwater mosquitoes. Most of these mosquitoes are considered nuisance mosquitoes.
• In general, nuisance mosquitoes do not spread viruses that make people sick. The types of mosquitoes that can spread viruses may increase 2 weeks to 2 months after a hurricane, especially in areas that did not flood but received more rainfall than usual.

Take steps to prevent mosquito bites.

The best was to prevent infection from diseases spread by mosquitoes is to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes bite during the day and night. Take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellent
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors

For more information, visit Protect Yourself and Your Family From Mosquito Bites.

Prevent contact with rodents

After a disaster, such as a hurricane, rats, mice and other pests might get in your home or building.

Rodents and other pests can cause a problem for your health. They can spread diseases and can bite people or pets. They also can trigger asthma attacks or allergic reactions in some people.

Steps to protect your home and family:

• Cover or close all holes in your walls. Some rodents can squeeze through holes as small as a dime.
• Wash anything you use for eating and cooking after you are done with them.
• Store food and water in containers made of thick plastic, glass, or metal with a tight-fitting lid.
• Throw out trash as soon as you can. Put trash in a covered trashcan or dumpster.
• Clean up debris and trash as soon as possible outside your home.
• Don't eat or drink food or water that could have come in contact with rodents.
• Trap any existing rodents using spring-loaded snap traps. When you clean up, wear rubber or plastic gloves, seal the dead rodent in two plastic bags, and throw away.

Be careful when reentering abandoned homes or other buildings.

Damaged or abandoned homes and other buildings may be infested with rodents. If buildings have been abandoned for an extended period of time, it may be helpful to air them out for 2-3 days before reentering.

If you see signs of rodents, the building will need to be thoroughly cleaned. Contact your local health department for guidance on cleaning in these situations.

Do not vacuum or sweep rodent urine, rodent droppings, or contaminated surfaces that have not been disinfected.

To clean contaminated surfaces:

• Spray urine and droppings with a disinfectant or a 1:10 chlorine solution (1½ cups of household bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water) until thoroughly soaked.
• Let it soak for 5 minutes.
• Use a paper towel to remove urine and droppings.
• Discard the paper towel outdoors in a sealed garbage container.

For more information, visit How to Control Wild Rodent Infestations.

Prevent snake bites

After a natural disaster, snakes may have been forced from their natural habitats and move into areas where they would not normally be seen or expected. When you return to your home, be cautious of snakes that may have sought shelter in your home.

Be careful around snakes.

• Be aware of snakes that may be swimming in the water to get to higher ground and those that may be hiding under debris or other objects.
• If you see a snake, back away from it slowly and do not touch it.

Know how to tell if you were bitten by a snake.

If you are walking in high water, you may feel a bite, but not know that you were bitten by a snake. You may think it is another kind of bite or scratch. Pay attention to the following snake bite signs and symptoms.

Depending on the type of snake, the signs and symptoms may include:

• A pair of puncture marks at the wound
• Redness and swelling around the bite
• Severe pain at the site of the bite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Labored breathing (in extreme cases, breathing may stop altogether)
• Disturbed vision
• Increased salivation and sweating
• Numbness or tingling around your face and/or limbs

Know what to do if you or someone else is bitten by a snake.

• Try to see and remember the color and shape of the snake, which can help with treatment of the snake bite.
• Keep the bitten person still and calm. This can slow down the spread of venom if the snake is venomous.
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
• Dial 911 or call local Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
• Contact your local Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Apply first aid if you cannot get the person to the hospital right away.

• Lay or sit the person down with the bite below the level of the heart.
• Tell them to stay calm and still.
• Wash the wound with warm soapy water immediately.
• Cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing.

Know what not to do.

If you or someone else is bitten by a snake:

• Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it (this may put you or someone else at risk for a bite).
• Do not apply a tourniquet.
• Do not slash the wound with a knife.
• Do not suck out the venom.
• Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.
• Do not drink alcohol as a pain killer.
• Do not drink caffeinated beverages.