Extreme Weather & Pests: How to Protect Your Business When It’s Raining Rats and Moths

How to Help Protect Your Business When It’s Raining Rats and Moths

Extreme Weather and Pests

Extreme weather is just that—extreme. In a moment, it can change everything, leaving a trail of destruction that can take years and billions of dollars to clean up. In addition to loss of property and disruption of day-to-day operations, extreme weather can intensify an existing pest problem or surface a new one. Because when hurricane winds finally abate and flood waters subside, your focus would ideally be on bringing revenue in—not on keeping pests out. For businesses that are just trying to stay afloat, the additional income lost or unplanned costs of a pest problem can add to an already taxing recovery effort.

Before extreme conditions leave you high and dry (or low and wet, as the case may be), check what’s on the pest forecast. In this guide, you’ll learn which pests pop up most frequently after extreme weather events. You’ll also come away better prepared to help protect your business from Mother Nature before and after disaster strikes.

Tornadoes and Pest Management

Once a tornado has blown through, it’s time to assess and clean up the damage. Here are a few practical ways you can help protect your property from any pests that may enter the premises:

• Awnings, eaves, downspouts, and gutters: These are often the first to blow off of buildings during high-speed winds. Replace or repair them as soon as possible to help close off possible pest entry points.
• Perishable foods: If the power goes out, perishable foods are in jeopardy—and rotting food is a pest’s favorite meal. Ensure generators are working, and if they’re not, get them back online as soon as possible.
• Trash build-up: If waste management services are unable to reach your building, trash can quickly build up, attracting flies and rodents. Make sure you have a plan in place for waste disposal that moves it away from structures and helps minimize pest activity from crossing over from trash piles to your building.

Tornadoes vary greatly in size, speed, and resulting damage, but even a small tornado leaves a sizeable path of destruction. It’s in the midst of this aftermath that pests fly into action.

Hurricanes and Pest Management

High-speed winds, torrential rain, storm surges—these elements make hurricanes the perfect storm for pests. Here are a few tips to help protect your business from pests that pop up after a super storm sweeps through:

• Flat roofs and ventilation screens: These are particularly susceptible to storm damage and can give pests an easy access point. Inspect and repair as soon as possible.
• Water damage and mildew build-up: Check production line equipment for water damage and mildew build-up, which can attract pests like large flies.
• Structural damage: This can compromise even the most airtight of facilities, letting in pests like mosquitoes and rodents, and the diseases they transmit. Examine walls, roofs, screens, and window seals.
• Bay doors and door sweeps: These are prone to damage, so repair them as soon as possible to help keep larger pests like snakes and rodents out.
• Standing water: This can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check flat roofs, courtyards, and other large, exposed areas that could collect rainfall.

These monster storms may vary in strength and size, but once they make landfall, they’ll drench, damage, or destroy anything that stands in their path. When the storm has passed and clean-up begins, you’d better be on the lookout for the storm’s next wave—a cloud of pests.

Temperature Extremes and Pest Management

When the mercury rises higher than 110°F or drops below 50°F, pest activity outdoors slows to a crawl, driving many species to seek shelter indoors. Here are a few practical tips to help make sure no rodent, wildlife, or bug is getting snug in your rug—or building’s crawlspace:

• Unsealed entrances: During extreme heat, pests will look for any unsealed entrances, like HVAC intakes, gaps under doors, and exterior cracks. Make sure to close them off, helping reduce pest access.
• 24/7 lights: When the temperature drops and the nights grow long, 24/7 lights become particularly attractive to heat-seeking pests. If possible, turn off any unnecessary fixtures.
• Temporary openings: Large, metal buildings can become incredibly hot during summer months, leading employees to crack a door or a window. If necessary, install screens or air curtains to help prevent pests from taking advantage of those temporary openings.

Humans aren’t the only ones hiding inside when the temperature hits extremes. Unlike us, pests aren’t as picky about where they spend their time. Their main objective is to get out of the elements, and they find even the least comfortable places in your business pretty cozy.

Water Extremes and Pest Management

Whether you’re begging the rain to come or go away, wishful thinking alone won’t protect you from pests. But these post-drought and post-flood tips just might help:

• Flood waters and termite treatment: Flood waters can wash away the top layer of soil, and your termite treatment along with it. Reach out to your pest control provider about a follow-up inspection as soon as possible.
• Mildew and mold: A flood will most immediately affect the ground floor of your building. Inspect for any build-up of mildew and mold that could attract flies and other pests that feed on decaying organic matter.
• Waterlogged pests: Any flood waters that reach cold storage might also be carrying waterlogged pests. Once flood waters have dried out, carefully check the area for any unwanted squatters that may be feeding on decaying organic material.
• Micro-sources of water: During a drought, wasps and bees will seek out micro-sources of water, like leaky A/C condensation lines and fountains. If possible, temporarily seal those off.

The best way to deal with the extreme conditions Mother Nature throws our way is preparedness—and that includes helping defend against post-event pests. That’s why it’s so important to have a plan in place to help protect your business from pest populations and their impact after extreme weather.

Are you interested in learning how to help safeguard your business with an effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan? Our Precision Protection™ service delivers scientifically based solutions to meet your facility’s needs. We’ll even assess your current pest control program for free—on your schedule, an Orkin representative can conduct a professional site inspection of your business and evaluate your IPM plan with no obligation whatsoever.

Need a quick reference guide for all of this? You can also download our expert tips sheet here.