The role of The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in post-disaster financial assistance for local governments facing budgetary constraints in Eastern North Carolina

Natural disasters such as hurricanes increase mosquito abundance as large amounts of rainfall, flooding, and standing water provide mosquito oviposition sites and facilitate population growth. Many mosquito species associated with flooding in North Carolina can potentially transmit pathogens such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus. Hurricane Irene impacted Eastern North Carolina from August 26 until August 28, 2011 and resulted in drastic increases in mosquito abundance. In the past, many regions in NC received state financial support for arbovirus surveillance and mosquito control. Recent federal and state budget cuts have resulted in reductions in mosquito programs across North Carolina.

Consequently, many North Carolina counties now rely solely on funding from The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for mosquito control following disasters such as Hurricane Irene that devastated Eastern North Carolina. This emergency funding is critical for short-term suppression of potential vector populations; however, funding is also needed to support continuous arbovirus surveillance for regional programs. In the current study, we examine the role of FEMA in mosquito control for local governments facing budgetary constraints. We discuss the extent to which federal funding has impacted mosquito control and arbovirus surveillance in eastern NC. Implications of reliance on reactive post-disaster assistance rather than preventive strategies will also be discussed.