Residents Impacted by Flood, Fight Mosquitoes

Community contends with the aftermath of historic rainfall

by Tony Vindell/LFN

While most cities impacted by last month’s downpour that flooded areas in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties have returned to normalcy, some places were still flooded a week later even though water levels have gone down.

Swarms of mosquitoes are everywhere despite the spraying campaign cities and counties have been implementing as the pesky blood suckers keep attacking without mercy.

Primera Mayor Dave Kusch said city crews have been spraying twice a day and will continue doing so until the situation is under control.
But area residents can be seen fighting the swarms of mosquitoes all over the areas impacted by one of the worst floods some said since Hurricane Beulah in 1967.

Alfonso Rodriguez, public works director with the City of La Feria, said mosquito spraying began on Monday, June 1.

He said the spraying there starts at 8 p.m.

On Rio Rancho Road, a crew from Cameron County Precinct 4 was using two pumps to suck the water from a ditch along the road and into a nearby canal but one of the two electrical pumps was malfunctioning.

The mosquitos there have been in full force and the county has also began spraying.

Farther up the road, dozens of homes and yards in the Town of Sebastian were still under water and sections of Texas Highway 186 between Raymondville and San Manuel were covered with water.

It does not matter where people affected by the flood live, the mosquitoes are everywhere.

Residents are advised to wear protective clothing and to use repellents.