A Date Etched in Resilience

It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated New Orleans, South Louisiana and Mississippi. Aug. 29 is no longer just a date; it is a marker etched into the collective memory of everyone in this region, and of those who came from across the country and around the world to help with rescue efforts and recovery. In the days and weeks that followed, people showed extraordinary humanity. City, state and federal employees, alongside countless volunteers, worked tirelessly to rescue stranded people and animals, clear away debris and support families struggling to rebuild their lives. It may sound cliché, but it’s in moments of extreme tragedy and adversity that we often witness the best qualities of people: resilience, generosity and compassion. Anyone who lost a loved one, suffered property damage or endured total loss, as well as those who participated in evacuations and recovery, still carries the emotional and psychological weight of those storms. The memories are buried as we live our busy lives, but the memories do not fade. Memories become part of the very fabric of who we are.

In the hurricane belt, June 1 isn’t just the start of hurricane season, it is the beginning of heightened awareness, preparation and watchful attention to the weather. Individuals have their preferred meteorologists and consistently track developments in the Atlantic Basin as well as monitor Saharan dust activity. In late August 2005, forecasts placed Hurricane Katrina’s path heading toward Florida’s panhandle. At the time, I was preparing to travel to Chicago because I was getting married on Sept. 3. I vividly remember leaving our office that Friday afternoon, wishing everyone goodbye and letting them know I would be back in two weeks. None of us could have known that within just 12 hours, Katrina’s trajectory would shift and life as we knew it was about to change forever.

FACILITY STATUS.

Most of our staff evacuated and scattered across the country or into nearby cities around the metropolitan region. I rode out Hurricane Katrina in Baton Rouge where I lived and traveled to Chicago later that week. By Sept. 7, I was back in Baton Rouge and returned to work. Edgar S. Bordes, then-director of the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB), and I were among the few who did not suffer property loss or flooding. Matt Yates, director of Baton Rouge Mosquito and Rodent Abatement, generously allowed us to work from his facility while we gathered our thoughts and began to develop a plan.

The NOMTRCB complex was located in a V-Zone, unprotected by levee walls. Thus, floodwaters receded within a few days, unlike much of the city, which remained inundated due to its low elevation and the levee walls that trapped the water. The tidal surge reached 11 feet, forcing water through the buildings, leaving behind thick mud and debris (Photo 1). It looked like the buildings had been caught in a giant washing machine, the destruction sweeping through everything in its path.

On Sept. 6, Bordes, along with Janet McAllister (CDC) and Kyle Moppert (Louisiana medical entomologist), flew to New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW) on a Civil Air Patrol flight to inspect the NOMTRCB complex. It was the first fixed-wing flight to land at this airport post- hurricane. The next day, NOMTRCB Aviation Supervisor, Joe Riedel, and I, arrived via Civil Air Patrol to recover personnel files and other items we could salvage and could carry aboard the aircraft. The silence at the site was overwhelming, broken only by the sound of Blackhawk helicopters and the unsettling creak of twisted metal panels in the wind. The absence of birds chirping was striking. Though the water around the NOMTRCB buildings receded quickly due to the lack of levee barriers, 80% of New Orleans remained underwater. Massive pumps were deployed to drain the city.

PRIORITY NO. 1: EMPLOYEES.

In the immediate aftermath, our priority was to contact employees and secure our facilities. The region’s communication infrastructure was severely compromised, cell towers were destroyed or overwhelmed, making it nearly impossible to reach anyone. The breakthrough came unexpectedly when Ed Freytag’s teenage son, David, discovered that text messaging was still working. Through this lifeline, we gradually located and reconnected with our staff, many of whom had lost their homes to flooding. To support emergency personnel returning to New Orleans, the federal government deployed cruise ships to serve as temporary housing for first responders, city workers and other essential staff. With housing and infrastructure flooded and in ruins, these floating hotels provided shelter and meals. Without them, recovery efforts simply couldn’t have moved forward because there were no places to live or stores to purchase food.

EMERGENCE RESPONSE.

During this time, Bordes and I found ourselves thrown into the world of emergency response. We began coordinating with FEMA and moved to operate out of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), set up inside the Hyatt Hotel in the Central Business District. Even the hotel showed its scars from the storm with shattered windows and broken glass scattered across the streets. Now, two decades later, we are part of the City of New Orleans’ emergency response team, contributing to the EOC and offering guidance on vector control in both pre- and post-disaster and all hazard scenarios.

Once the floodwater began to recede, Bordes and I secured emergency access permits to inspect our sites. The city was under lockdown and only emergency response teams were allowed entry. Pest control professionals were soon added to that list. A striking moment during that time was driving along the elevated highway into downtown. A road generally buzzing with activity had become a place of escape for evacuees that left behind only their personal belongings (Photo 2). After hurricane Katrina, the intense heat was oppressive, and the silence was haunting.

MOSQUITO PROBLEMS.

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina, mosquito issues first emerged in areas that weren’t flooded. Intense winds and flying debris reduced adult mosquito survival. In addition, brackish floodwater contaminated with oil and other chemicals found in homes impacted mosquito larval survival. Fish also were found in the floodwaters. However, with power outages preventing pools, fountains and other water-holding structures from circulating water, conditions became increasingly favorable for mosquitoes. In 2006, later in the response, a two-fold increase in neuroinvasive cases of West Nile virus was documented in the hurricane-affected regions of Louisiana and Mississippi (Caillouët, et al., 2008).

First responders, National Guard personnel, and other emergency teams stationed along the levees and in the Warehouse District faced high mosquito exposure, particularly from the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, the primary vector of West Nile virus in the region. Area-wide abatement involved coordination between Louisiana’s Department of Health (led by Moppert), the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases Division (led by McAllister), and the Air Force Reserve Command’s 910th Airlift Wing from Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. From Sept. 12-20, a pair of C-130 Hercules aircraft deployed from Duke Field, Florida, conducted aerial spray missions over the Gulf Coast region using Dibrom (AMVAC Chemical Corporation). In 44 sorties, over 2.8 million acres were treated with 13,775 gallons of insecticide (Haulman, 2006; McCowen, 2005).

Dr. Michel Carroll, assistant director, NOMTRCB; Will Shulte, director St. Bernard Parish Mosquito Control; and Kevin Caillouët, a Ph.D. student from Tulane University at the time, trapped mosquitoes or conducted landing rates across Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. Their data was used to schedule flight missions. Then, on Sept. 24, Hurricane Rita made landfall in western Cameron Parish and moved into southeastern Texas, bringing winds exceeding 150 mph, compounding the challenges already faced during mosquito control operations across the state.

PEST CONTROL WORK.

Following the storms, widespread power outages and disruptions in trash collection resulted in growing piles of garbage and spoiled food inside refrigerators and freezers. These conditions triggered an explosion of filth flies and a notable surge in rodent activity in populated areas that remained unflooded. Members of the National Guard stationed along the levees behind the Convention Center reported rodents consuming MREs and scraps around their campsites.

Pest management professionals from New York City volunteered to assist with recovery efforts and coordinated with Allen Fugler of LIPCA Insurance Specialists and the local team. Together, they treated rodent burrows along levees and serviced bait stations in areas occupied by volunteers and first responders (Photo 3). They also helped inspect termite bait stations and properties across the French Quarter, navigating significant logistical challenges during this period (Photo 4). In addition, manufacturers and volunteers generously stepped up, donating urgently needed pesticides and offering support throughout the hurricane aftermath and for years thereafter.

Rodent populations impacted by flooding or natural disasters typically rebound in 6-10 months, depending on resource availability (CDC 2006; Zhang et al., 2007). Once floodwaters receded, residents began returning to their homes and emptied the contents of their homes (gutted) on the curb for pickup (Photo 5). People also cut the drywall above the flood level or removed it all together. This is when many people discovered they had termite damage to their property caused by Formosan subterranean termites. The volume of debris was overwhelming, and removal efforts were slow. Many displaced residents did not return for years, leaving properties abandoned and untouched. At one point, New Orleans had the highest number of abandoned homes in the country.

While many of these properties have gradually been restored and placed back into commerce, unoccupied homes remain because of residents who have never returned. These properties often have high grass and harbor rodents (Peterson, et al, 2020), urban wildlife and mosquitoes. Increased prevalence of zoonotic diseases has been documented in areas with increased rodent species richness and abundance (Ghersi et al., 2021; Peterson, et al, 2021; Rael, et al., 2018). These properties also provide an attractive location for illegal dumping, which exacerbates pest problems.

ABANDONED POOLS.

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, approximately 100 inactive pools had been identified and were receiving regular inspections. By the end of 2005, our team realized there were more than 2,500 swimming pools in service that had created habitat for a variety of mosquito species on a massive scale. Traditional inspection methods such as going house-to-house were impractical due to the scale and access limitations. To address this challenge, the team implemented aerial imaging techniques to identify and assess the status of swimming pools across New Orleans. This analysis revealed thousands of swimming pools that required attention.

Operation Blessing International (OBI), a global humanitarian organization, was in New Orleans assisting with recovery. Bill Horan, president of OBI and an avid fisherman, teamed up with Steve Sackett, mosquito control operations supervisor at NOMTRCB and a fellow angler, to launch Operation Bug Busters. With financial support and volunteer personnel provided by Operation Blessing, the program successfully introduced mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) into over 1,200 abandoned swimming pools. These biological control agents effectively reduced larval mosquito populations in pools and other backyard water features (Marten et al., 2010). Operation Blessing also provided volunteers for Rat Busters that conducted rodent abatement in numerous areas of New Orleans.

In 2006, an urban myth began circulating that mulch made from wood waste in hurricane-affected zones was being sold by national home improvement chains. This sparked widespread concern, and termite professionals across the country fielded calls from concerned customers. However, the claim was highly improbable. Major retailers were unlikely to source materials from unauthorized suppliers. Furthermore, termite colonies would not likely survive the mechanical grinding process and the sustained high temperatures (130-160°F) that occur during mulch storage and composting. In contrast, materials like railroad ties and landscape timbers installed directly on the ground pose a significantly higher and well-documented risk for spreading termites.

REFLECTING ON RESILIENCE

Today, what stands out most to me is the extraordinary resilience and dedication our employees showed, personally and professionally, during one of the most difficult periods in their lives. Even though many faced devastating damage to their homes and property, they showed up to protect the public from health threats from pests and vectors. The courage and commitment they showed during this time exemplifies the true spirit of public service.

Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has come a long way. The city’s people have shown incredible resilience facing tremendous adversity yet never losing their joy, hope or unmistakable spirit. Over the years, people from across the country have made New Orleans their home. And whether you were born here or found your way here later, the city has a remarkable ability to draw you in, embrace you fully, and make you part of its story. Its rich culture, iconic music and timeless charm continue to welcome newcomers while preserving everything that makes New Orleans, New Orleans.

The author is director at the City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board.

References

Caillouët, K. A., S. R. Michaels, X. Xiong, I. Foppa, and D. M. Wesson. 2008. Increase in West Nile neuroinvasive disease after Hurricane Katrina. Emerging Infectious Disease 14(5):804-7.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006. Rodent control after hurricanes and floods. CDC Disaster Safety Fact Sheet.

Ghersi, B. M., A. C. Peterson, C. Riegel, R. Campanella, J. E. Childs, M. J. Blum. 2021. Flooding and abandonment have shaped rat demography across post-Katrina New Orleans, Landscape and Urban Planning 215. doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104218.

Haulman, D., L. 2006. The U.S. Air Force Response to Hurricane Katrina. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdf/ADA517164.

Marten, G., C. Harrison, M. Nguyen, S. Sackett, G. Thompson, M. K. Carrol and C. Riegel. 2010, revised 2013. The use of Gambusia to control mosquito larvae in abandoned swimming pools: the New Orleans Experience. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CbZv7tYAzD4-k9F8AoeWbnJlhu9V1Bm/view.

McCown, S. D., 2005. “Reservists Reducing Hurricane-Borne Insects,” Air Force Link, 29 Sep 2005, story ID=123011664; “Reserve Conducts Aerial Spray Mission Over Louisiana,” Air Force Link, 13 Sep 2005.

Peterson AC, B, M. Ghersi, C. Riegel, E.A. Wunder. Jr., J .E. Childs, M.J. Blum. 2021. Amplification of pathogenic Leptospira infection with greater abundance and co-occurrence of rodent hosts across a counter-urbanizing landscape. Molecular Ecology 30(9):2145-2161. doi: 10.1111/mec.15710.

Peterson, A.C., B. M. Ghersi, R. Campanella, C. Riegel, J. A. Lewis, and M. J. Blum. 2020. Rodent assemblage structure reflects socioecological mosaic of counter-urbanization across post-hurricane New Orleans. Landscape and Urban Planning 195, 103710.

Rael, R. C., A. C. Peterson, B. Ghersi-Chavez, C. Riegel, A. E. Lesen, M. J. Blum. 2018. Rat Lungworm Infection in Rodents across Post-Katrina New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Emerging Infectious Disease. 24(12):2176-2183.

Zhang, M., Wang, K., Wang, Y., Guo, C., Li, B. and Huang, H., 2007. Recovery of a rodent community in an agro-ecosystem after flooding. Journal of Zoology, 272: 138-147.