minutes board of supervisors, harrison county, mississippi minute

Natural Hazards in the post disaster environment are magnified because such
disasters upset the natural order of the area and wildlife will be displaced and
more aggressive as a result. Standing water leads to insect breeding on a
greater scale and workers will interact with insects and plants normally only
found in deep woods environments.
4.3.1 Arachnids are exposed in post disaster circumstances and much more
frequently encountered than normally. Spiders are a particular concern as
many varieties have poisonous venom. Two types of spiders common to
Harrison County are Black Widows and Brown Recluses. Information on
identifying and dealing with these spiders can be found in Appendix B of
this document.
4.3.2 In a post disaster environment, especially if flooding was a factor,
mosquitoes are a severe problem and hazard for workers. Workers
should use insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin on exposed skin
and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Efforts should be made to
remove all nearby sources of stagnant or standing water. Additional
information on avoiding mosquito related illness and specifically West Nile
disease can be found in Appendix C of this document.
4.3.3 Although new evacuation guidelines from FEMA make accommodations
for pets in a disaster scenario, there will still be a number of abandoned pets,
strays and wild animals aggravated by events. Workers should do the
following:
a.) Assume that all animals are rabid.
b.) Be on guard for stray or wild animals, as they can exhibit unpredictable
or aggressive behavior.
c.) Do not attempt to take custody of animals-watch them from a safe
distance while contacting animal control personnel.
4.3.4 In a post disaster environment, it is not unusual for snakes to be driven
from their natural habitat into more exposed areas. Debris of any kind can
provide a safe haven for snakes of many varieties. Workers should follow
these gUidelines to prevent accidentally disturbing snakes and risking a
bite:
a.) Assume that all snakes are poisonous.
b.) Be cautious about where you place your hands and feet. Do not put
your hands in holes or under objects (e.g., lumber, scrap metal,
overturned boats) without checking to see if snakes are present.
c.) Do not sit or lie down in areas where snakes could be present (e.g.,
wood piles, high vegetation).
d.) Wear proper foot gear, such as high-top leather boots and leather
gloves when handling material where snakes may have nested (e.g.,
firewood, lumber, rocks, construction debris). Refer to Appendix H for
more information on snake hazards.