Cockroaches in your house after a storm? You’re not alone. Here’s why + what to do
Whenever a tropical storm or heavy rains dump on North Carolina, a trail of water damage may not be the only thing left behind.
Heavy rains also can create the perfect conditions for cockroaches and other unwelcome critters to invade your home.
As Tropical DepressionStorm Debbyie swept through North Carolina, it not only left behind a trail of water damage, but it also created the perfect conditions for cockroaches and other unwelcome critters to invade your home.
Laura Rosenwald, a National Pest Management Association entomologist, told The Charlotte Observer that cockroaches, mosquitos, ticks and stinging insects are more active during periods of heavy rain.
If left untreated, encounters with some of these pests could lead to a trip to the emergency room.
Here’s why critters are more active after storms, ways they can get inside your home and how to keep them out.
Why are cockroaches and other bugs more active after storms?
Insects are more active during storms in the summer due to warm temperatures and water dependence, Rosenwald said, adding that heat provides favorable conditions for them to breed.
“With the big rain that you all just had, that means that a lot of these pests are going to be a little bit more active because those areas are more humid,” said Rosenwald.
Cockroaches prefer warm and humid environments, but they could make their way inside to take a break from the heat, according to Rosenwald.
“They might go inside, because that’s a little bit more regulated compared to outside, especially with these extreme temperatures,” Rosenwald said.
How do pests get inside homes after storms?
Pests can get inside homes through small openings in crawl spaces and foundations, Rosenwald said.
Cockroaches can also enter your home in a number of different ways, according to the National Pesticide Information Center, including:
Hitching a ride on bags, backpacks, suitcases and other containers.
Finding openings around doors and windows.
Moving from one apartment to another through pipes and other holes in shared walls.
Are cockroaches dangerous to humans?
Pests in your home can lead to dangerous outcomes, from allergic reactions to foodborne illnesses, Rosenwald said.
“Most people don’t know that they’re allergic until they get stung by one,” said Rosenwald. “That’s that’s a really big issue, especially because stinging insects send about half a million people to the emergency room every year.”
Since cockroaches are often found rummaging through trash and sewage, the risk of contracting a foodborne illness increases if they’re inside your home, Rosenwald said.
The cockroach is a known vector for diseases, including salmonella, E. coli and dysentery, according to Orkin.
“Cockroach fecal wastes, cast skins, and saliva may also cause allergic reactions,” Orkin says, which can lead to symptoms like rashes and breathing issues that are most severe for people with asthma and children.
How to keep pests out of your home
Rosenwald said the best way to keep pests out of your home is to contact a pest management professional for a consultation.
“They are very well versed in the kinds of ways that pests use to get into your home,” Rosenwald said. “So if you have any questions about anything that you think might be an entry point, that would be the best time to call pest management professional, just to come out, do an inspection, make sure that everything looks good.”
There are also small things homeowners can do to make sure pests don’t creep in, such as making sure window screens are in good condition and not leaving doors and windows open, Rosenwald said.
Here are some ways you can keep cockroaches out of your home, according to the NPMA:
Seal cracks in walls and gaps near electric sockets
Keep counters, sinks, tables and floors free of clutter and crumbs
Don’t let dishes pile up
Avoid leaving food out in the open and store it in airtight containers
Vacuum at least once a week to remove food particles
Ventilate crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup
This story was originally published August 9, 2024 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Cockroaches in your house after a storm? You’re not alone. Here’s why + what to do."
