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Sharing space with snakes, rats and mosquitoes

Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008 5:54 PM

Hurricane Ike

By Charles Hadlock, NBC News

GALVESTON, TEXAS -- In the last week, I have stepped over more snakes, run from more rats and have been bitten by more mosquitoes than I care to count.

Thousands of people on Galveston Island fled for higher ground in the wake of Hurricane Ike. So did the snakes, rats and mosquitoes.

How could some of Earth’s lowliest creatures survive one of nature’s fiercest storms? Somehow they did and they’re alive and thriving on Galveston Island. I have the mosquito bites alone to prove it.

The rising surge water forced critters of all kinds to seek higher ground. For residents returning home this week, don’t be surprised to find snakes in trees and rats living in dry attics of some of Galveston’s grandest homes.

All the water that rushed into Galveston is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, says the county’s mosquito control director, John Marshall. The water has collected in almost everything Hurricane Ike tossed about. You’ll find mosquitoes breeding in old tires, in the trunks of crushed cars and in the hundreds of pleasure boats now sitting on dry land. I even saw a hot tub perched in the median of a road, apparently washed in from one of the hundreds of homes miles away. Talk about your breeding ground!

You don’t have to walk very far in Galveston to be attacked by mosquitoes. It doesn’t matter what part of town you’re in; mosquitoes don’t discriminate. All they want is your blood. All they give is a weeklong itch and a chance for an illness like encephalitis.

Galveston County is launching an assault on the mosquito population. Trucks are spraying pesticide throughout each neighborhood. As if that’s not enough, three airplanes are also spraying pesticide in remote parts of the island.

Come to think of it, that’s not enough. Before you come to Galveston Island, douse yourself with bug repellent. Oh, and watch out for the snakes. And the rats.

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Comments

There are some places on earth that should be left "wild" and Galveston Island is one of them.

RNay, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 8:32 AM)

You don't have to go to Galveston, either.  I'm in Houston near Hobby Airport, and the mosquitoes are vicious.  Because of having no power, we can't circulate the water in the swimming pool and they're starting to breed there.  However, I have hope.  The dragon flies are multiplying to combat the mosquito forces.  

Rebecca, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:08 AM)

That stinks!  Mosquitos are the worst.

m, tahlequah, ok (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:29 AM)

I no longer live in Louisiana but I grew up there and lived through several hurricanes: one in 1947 or 48 that had no name that I know of and Betsy and Camille.  I remember the fear of living through the storm itself & worrying about my family.  I also remember the misery after,s the lack of electricity, the muggy heat, not being able to flush the toilet, drinking water from the bathtub where we had stored it.  Thank God I didn't have to put up with snakes and rats only the little, whining, aggrevating flying insects.  Thanks for highlighting the ongoing misery - after the storm. Pat

PATRICIA DESILVA EMILEANE, TOOELE, UT (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:48 AM)

Too bad getting motel vouchers from fema were as easy as getting mosquito bites in the Galveston area.

bill prry 222 driftwood surfside beach texas (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:50 AM)

Rebecca I've dumped ordinary bleach in our pool for this reason and it worked.

CiCi, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:26 AM)

I live in Boston the rat Capital of the Northeast!

Karl Schneider Boston , Ma (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:40 AM)

I COULD NOT IMAGINE MYSELF DEALING WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE R DEALING WITH AFTER IKE. THE WORST I HAVE BEEN THROUGH IS AN EATHQUAKE.MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL OF YOU.  

IRENE EURE ELKO NV (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:50 AM)

Why in the world would anyone live in such a place...Ah, NYC is heaven!

Barry, New York (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 12:04 PM)

To Barry, I'm and ex New Yorker, now living in Houston. I'll take our hurricanes over the blizzards in New York any day of the week.

Sue Kronenberger (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 12:33 PM)

I thank God every day for people like BARRY, New York..... Barry keep your heaven I prefer my ladn of open spaces and people not every where I go for miles upon miles... I drive truck OTR and have had the mispleasure of delivering in NYC and heaven it is not..... As for Galveston it is a beautiful place and lets all agree in each of our own areas of "HOME" we have good and bad... some just seems to pop the ugly head up more often than not... Lets pray for recovery and healing in the aftermath of IKE.

Emery, Bedford TX (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 12:50 PM)

I live in te US Virgin Islands. I have lived through 4 Major Hurricaines, including Marilyn and "Wrong Way"
Lenny.  I have never heard such whinning. After Marilyn I did not have power for 2 1/2 MONTHS!!! Not weeks or days, Months.  People need to build better and smarter in a hurricane area.  

Melinda, St Croix USVI. (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:06 PM)

You are right #1 above.  There are places on earth where humans should not be allowed to live.  But until we get out of the cowboy vs. indian mentality that we OWN EVERYTHING, then these events will continue to turn out like this one.

L. Kastar, L.A., Ca. (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:24 PM)

THERE IS NOTHING NO ONE CAN SAY TO EASE THE PAIN BUT LIKE THE SAYING SAY AFTER EVERY STORM THERE IS A RAINBOW THE STROM (WELL IKE ) HAS CAME NOW YOUR RAINBOW OF BLESSINGS WILL COME GOD IS WATCHING OVER ALL OF YOU GOD BLESS

TASHA WASHINGTON COLUMBUS,OHIO (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:55 PM)

Melinda, My 10 little days without "juice" seem piddling compared to 2.5 months. But if I really want to feel blessed, I think about the people in New Orleans after Katrina or the folks in Haiti this summer getting wacked by 4 storms!

DVill, Houston, Texas (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 2:05 PM)

SNAKES, RATS AND MOSQUITOES?  Sounds like Washington, D.C.!

john doe, new york, new york (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 2:41 PM)

The entire country should be forced into a national disaster insurance program based on a percentage take of the property assessed valuation tied to a formula for disaster prone areas.  Everytime we have a natural disaster, FEMA is there to pick up the cost which comes out of the federal budget.  We have subsidized flood insurance; no reason the entire country cannot contribute to an insurance pool.  Disaster prone areas should be identified and if you want to live on a sand dune on the coast, then brother, you need to be prepared to fork over some big bucks insurance money to Uncle Sam (or, forget about getting any federal/state/local financial relief).  And, if the scientists are correct in all of their doomsday predictions, then all those living on the eastern and gulf coasts should either build tall tsunami weather proof housing or tow a trailer in for the summer.  I'm getting tired of picking up the tab for people who want to live in known disaster areas and expect the rest of us to pay for their stupidity.

Terry Urbanis, Hines, OR (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:05 PM)

Talk about "kicking a man when he's down". (Melinda St Croix and Terry, Hines, Or.) These good folks of the Gulf coast need our help and prayers not our criticism. As always God Bless America and God Bless John Wayne. God's speed to the victims of Ike.

Mike D. Texas Panhandle (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:50 PM)

Chlorine in swimming pool kills mosquitoes!

Tom, Omaha, NE (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:52 PM)

Sorry to hear about the rat problem, but i can remember living in NYC and seeing them as big as cats and dogs!!!!  God bless, you are all in my familys thoughts and prairs...

jody albany newyork (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:08 PM)

amen

sami kotkavaara sacramento (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:13 PM)

HEY TERRY, WHEN MT.HOOD, OR ST HELEN OR MT. WHATEVER EXPLODES IN YOUR BACKYARD, DON'T COME CRYING TO ME!BUT I KNOW YOU WILL.BUT GO TRAILBLAZERS, BEAT LAKERS!

NY HAMMER, NY, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:14 PM)

Dear Rebecca and CiCi, I'm sure the bleach works well on the mosquitoes. However, the secret to killing the mosquito larvi is to destroy the surface tension of the water. Diluted dishwashing detergent in a handspray does a great job for me. Obviously for a pool you would shoot straight from the bottle. Once the larvi can no longer cling to the surface of the warer, they eventually drown. Glad to see you still can appreciate the dragon flies, I like them too. Hope this email finds you both warm and dry. I'm in the midst of a typhoon signal #8, the worst of will be over in the next four hours.

Willi, Happy Valley, Hong Kong (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:25 PM)

Terry Urbanis is absolutely correct.  There is no justifiable reason why homeowners' insurance premiums for those who do NOT live in known, recurrent disaster areas should be used to subsidize those who wish to shoulder the consequences upon others.

Urbis et Orbi, the Latin Quarter...of Rome (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:42 PM)

I'm tired of it too.  If people want to live in
flood prone areas, fine.  But the rest of us should
not have to pay for their bad choices.

David Watson, Lebanon, ME (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:58 PM)

terry!! what about the 700 billion dollar bailout the govt just did for the banks??? your worried about a couple of dollars on your income tax ?? These people lost EVERYTHING!!!sad what we have become,it used to be we went out of our way to help each other.this lady needs to have everything baby pics, family heirlooms, even pets destroyed then have someone 10000 miles away cast judgment and call her names.SAD SAD SAD

ERIC johnson, gonzales,la (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 5:29 PM)

Bail out the big banks,bail out the airlines,bail out the auto industry,bail out the storm victoms.I also am tired of footing the bills for these things.Why should my money be used to bail out those that live in these areas?Will you all buy me a new home if some thing happens to mine?(NOT) and (NOT) again..

George White,Bath,NY (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 5:39 PM)

What Terry Urbanis, we should all fly in from Oregon to provide you with all of the energy we produce here in disaster ridden Texas and Louisiana???  You think gasoline prices are high now?

TxGerl, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:11 PM)

I am visiting Ft Myers FL, As Ike passed close by it upset the sea life, much like the the Americans housing and retirement disaster to humans.
Being from the Smoky Mountains I know nothing of sea life, but I picked up a very beautiful shell, a piece of tissue was hanging out of it with a death grip on a flat oval shell.  I walked down to the water and dipped it in to wash all the ants off of it.  As I submerged the shell I felt a movement, pulled the shell out of the water to discover I had saved a life!
The flat oval shell was actually that creatures door.
I ran from one end of the beach to the other throwing all I could find back in, commanding them to LIVE AND NOT DIE!
Ladies and Gentleman, I look at a shell differently today! IT REPRESENTS A LIFE THAT HAS BEEN! A LIFE THAT WAS THROWN OUT OF ITS ENVIRONMENT BY FORCES BEYOND ITS CONTROL.  So it is with many Americans today.  If it is within your power, won't you pick one up and throw it back into life and command, "LIVE AND NOT DIE!"?

Respectfully,
Wayne Canant
Maryville,TN

Wayne Canant, Maryville, TN U.S.A. (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:23 PM)

Terry,

Ditto, Ditto, Ditto!!!

Barbara, Walla Walla, WA (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:49 PM)

I have never seen more rats than in NYC and then there are the investment bankers wanting us to pay for their bailout  !

Joe Friesse, W VA (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:49 PM)

Terry,

Now that we live in a facist country, your idea
actually has merit. Kind of like how Congress held  
a secret meeting back in March to discuss FISA.  
How far down the toilet are we when Congress uses
spying on it's own citizens as a cover for what
they really talked about in their little secret
session.

All you people crying about Katrina and Ike have no
clue of the REAL storm that's coming in the next few
months. This storm won't have wind or waves, but it
will be more devastating than anything this world
has ever seen. Melinda is right, you all better
toughen up, or you won't survive what's coming.

Marshall (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:22 PM)

The more I read the more I wonder what people are thinking about.
R Nay wants me to leave Galeston but he lives in Charlotte where they are inpacted by hurricanes also.
L Kastar in LA CA is ok with living in earthquake zone, forrest fires and the land falling into the Pacfic but doen't want me to live on the Gulf Coast.
Terry Urbans in Or is ok with the land falling into ocean, forrest fires living close to a active Mt St Helen but I shouldn't live on my slice of heaven.
People your calling on us to leave but not yourself.
it's the pot calling the kettle black.  We live where we want and deal with those realities.
Please stop telling other people what to do or where to live unless to want to start with yourself.

Tony Bess West End Galveston Texas (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:23 PM)

Terry Urbanis' comment is right on, although a little too harsh.

C'mon people, THINK! "What are the chances of something bad happening, if I live on a sand bar right on the edge of the ocean, where 100-mile-per-hour windstorms and flooding are possible every few years. Oh, and this place was destroyed by one such storm a hundred years ago."

Same with New Orleans - it just DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE to build (and rebuild) a major city in a bowl-shaped plain that lies 10-20 feet lower than the water that surrounds it on all sides, especially when you consider that it's likely to get brushed or hit directly by a hurricane at least once every 4 or 5 years.

In Miami, I rent a high-rise condo, and I know full well that when the "Big One" finally comes, I'll be forced to look for a new place to live.

Dan, Coral Gables, FL (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:54 PM)

Right on Terry, I have my own bills to pay.

Ed Stover, York, Pa (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 8:50 PM)

Shame on all of you who are down on those people who have just lost everything.  First off Terry, I am also originally from Oregon and now live in Texas. Hmmm, live and dormant volcanoes sound like potential disaster areas too.  Are you going to require all of the people of Puyallup and Tacoma to move away from Mt. Rainier because they are also in a known disaster area?  How about the super wind storms of the Willamette Valley in Oregon?  People on the San Andreas fault line?   Granted those that move to the beach are tempting fate but a lot of the families who live near the coast have lived there for generations.  They live there because that's their home.  Has your family been in the Hines area for 150 years or more?  My point is these people who are suffering don't need your criticism but your compassion.  Even though I live closer to Dallas I was there with my mother in law and family when Ike struck.  Be glad you never witness something of that magnitude.  We got both sides and the eye.  My mother in law and her area still are without power.  Nothing to whine about just a fact.  Let's just be a little more compassionate and help each other.  A lot of people are putting their lives on hold to help others clean up and rebuild.  If we all made a vow to help others and end their suffering what a place this would be.  This isn't Texas vs. New York vs. LA, it's bigger than that.  It's humanity.

Jim Sullivan, Palestine, Texas (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 9:44 PM)

I cannot imagine how bad things would be w/o many of our local leaders. In Harris County and Houston, Mayor Bill White (a Democrat) and County Judge Ed Emmett (a Republician) have done a great job. It's too bad one is not the Governor of Texas and the other the President.

Ralph Holle, Houston, Texas (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:18 PM)

people in this country have forgotten how to take care of themself, they want the goverment to take care of everything. FEMA is blamed,State and Federal Goverment is blamed,the fact is if you own a home on the beach or live near the beach you aint poor so learn to take care of yourself. Quit blaming everything on everyone else and learn to take care of your own. People need to start thinking What will I do if the light go out for good and Uncle Sam cant help. We've had it good for so long we freak at every little bump.

M Dog Level Plains AL (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:55 PM)

oil (vegetable or mineral) floats on water and stops the mosquito from breathing

there are also large gray tablets (3" in diameter) one can buy and throw into smaller pools

landon kelsey,coldspring,texas (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:20 PM)

TO JOHN DOE YOU RIGHT ABOUT "SNAKES, RATS AND MOSQUITOES?  Sounds like Washington, D.C.! THE PROBLEM IS THE SNAKES,RATS MOSQUITOES HAVE TWO LEGS HE HE THIS INCLUDES ALL STATES CAPACITIES  AND CITY HALLS ALL OVER THE USA

KEITHWELP2@MSN.COM (Sent Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:21 PM)

It seems to me that there are a number of you who are extremely negative about the gulf coast area.  It's very sad to read your comments about our home. My family and friends have lost businesses and homes yet we stay positive and know we can recover. How dare you call our choice of home our stupidity!  Have you ever visited the people on the coast or enjoyed any of the cultures?  I feel sorry for small minded poeple like you who can not appreciate past their own backyard.  I have lived along the Louisiana and Texas gulf coast for 40 years and it has only been in the last few years that I have experienced and recovered from these storms. Nature is all around you and will follow where ever you choose to live!

Stacey Castolenia, Beaumont, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:02 AM)

We have monster black mosquitos like I've never seen 60 miles from Galveston. You just cover your head and run as fast as you can from the car to the house. They are fast and mean. For those of you commenting on people living in disaster zones, you need to check your attitude and look at the facts. Galveston is and has been a thriving island that brings great joy to many, many people. It has not experienced a hurricane of this nature in over 100 years. I think its pretty easy for people in Montana and Oregon to cast their judgement but the people in Galveston are strong and will pull themselves out of this. There are many, many families who live there who are living in their great-grandparents home where they came after they immigrated. So rather than being crass and rude about it, stand up and be an American and support other Americans who are truly, truly hurting right now! These people have lost absolutely everything and deserve your prayers and support. The next time someone you knows loses their house to a fire, tell them you're sorry they built a house out of wood or near a tree. That's about the same logic as you are using casting your high and mighty judgement on these people.

Alymac (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:12 AM)

Everywhere is a disaster area at some point or another... around 2/3's of San Diego county (which is HUGE) got burned in the Fire Storms... should all the people who lost their homes NOT rebuild because a disaster happened? We're talking SAN DIEGO, people, you know, the supposed "perfect weather capital of the world"? If we didn't rebuild every time a disaster happened somewhere, there would be no where left to live... duh?!

Christopher, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:25 AM)

I agree: "I'm getting tired of picking up the tab for people who want to live in known disaster areas and expect the rest of us to pay for their stupidity."

Why don't we just set up oil rigs on this island and pump up some Texas Tea! Hello?

Louis J (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:45 AM)

Terry, there's no way people who live in a low-likelihood disaster area should be forced to pay for areas where others choose to live that are in tornado alley or hurricane paths.  That's subsidizing stupid decisions.  The American public are very giving people, and it's wonderful that we as a collective take care of our own.  But mandating anything so that the voice of the government forces the hands of the people is not sensible, just, or altruistic--it's communism.  Once, people took responsibility for their choices.  Today, people like you want everyone else to take responsibility for your choices.

I have lots of family in Houston, and I have vacationed in Galveston many times.  Why should anyone (FEMA included) be footing the cost for damage that comes from nature?  Such short sighted, open hearted and empty headed notions are why our country is in debt up to its eyeballs and the economy is failing.  Thanks, but no thanks.

Jason, Austin, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:45 AM)

I tend to agree ...why should we constantly have to pay for the descisions of those who choose to live in natural disaster areas? Those who choose to live in these areas need to be responsible for themselves(oops ..I suppose they are smart they get us to pay for their foly time after time ) Sure would like some of that free money here for a new hot tub or sea doo.

martin turnbull,fortine ,mt (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 1:27 AM)

SNAKES,RATS AND MOSQUITOES. IF YOU THINK THATS BAD,
HOW ABOUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN HIGH ISLAND, CRYSTAL BEACH AND BOLIVAR WHO TRIED TO RIDE OUT THE STORM AND WERE WASHED OUT TO SEA DURING HURRICANE IKE. FOR SOME REASON THE MEDIA IN THIS COUNTRY IS NOT OR DOES NOT WANT TALK ABOUT THIS!

GEORGE, HOUSTON, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 1:42 AM)

Barry, don't forget that the east coast including NYC is overdue for a hurricane.
Earthquakes have the advantage that they're over in 30 seconds and don't leave a soggy mess :)

Ralf, L.A., CA (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 2:39 AM)

Terry, your comment is a circular argument. First you say everyone should have to pay into an insurance program, then you say you're tired of picking up the tab.  I guess when you're on such a high horse you forget these things?  See if your tune is the same next time Oregon has a volcano erupt, or a severe blizzard.

Chris, Texas (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 3:10 AM)


There is no place in the world that is not susceptible to some sort of natural disaster, be it hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornados, mudslides, ice storms, avalanches, tsunamis, drought, etc.   So, we should all try to build the most durable home possible to withstand the wonders of nature that come our way.  Isn't that a given?!!   Lets remember, though, that it isn't stupidity that keeps us from having these "destruction-proof" homes.   It's good old money and lack there-of.   So, if you haven't suffered yet, your turn is coming.....so a little compassion for your fellow man/woman, please.

Tina, Liberty, Texas (Sent Wednesday, September 24, 2008 4:02 AM)



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