Living with water zika

Today the mayor's office put out a press release about Zika prevention.

The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (Mosquito Control Board) maintains a robust mosquito surveillance program, and today, the city announced plans to allocate an additional $500,000 to more aggressively target the two mosquito species that are the primary carriers of Zika virus, the Yellow fever mosquito and the Asian Tiger mosquito. The Mosquito Control Board has an annual budget of $3.5 million, which supports the department’s overall functions of monitoring and controlling populations of mosquitoes, termites, and rodents in order to reduce rodent and insect-borne diseases.

We heard the mosquito spray truck pass by our window last night so, I guess, that's evidence that they're taking action.  Here is what they say you can do to help. 

Mosquitos breed in standing water. Residents are strongly encouraged to assist in reducing mosquito populations around their homes and businesses by removing trash and clutter; disposing of discarded tires and containers that can hold water; turning over wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children's toys or anything that could collect water.

Just know that while you are hunting around in your backyard for waterlogged Tonka trucks, this is also happening. 

The projects of the Gentilly Resilience District are rooted in the knowledge that one type of solution is not enough. In order to address complex issues such as crumbling streets and the overburdened drainage systems and sinking soils that cause them, a suite of approaches is needed in different places to add up to a network of benefits. That is why Gentilly Resilience District projects will take place in streets, in neutral grounds, in parks, on schoolyards, on open lots, and if you want, even at your house! The projects are designed to reduce risk from flooding and subsidence by creating spaces to capture rainwater in the urban landscape. They are designed to beautify neighborhoods, improve health, and provide opportunities for recreation. When all the elements of a neighborhood are working together to reduce risk and enhance development potential, we are really adapting to thrive!

Because we live in a sinking city threatened by coastal erosion and climate change, we wish the Living With Water resilience experiment all the luck in the world. At the same time, we're gonna be spending more on mosquito repellent for a while.