Presented by Tristan Hallum at the 94th Annual Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) Conference in Rancho Mirage, CA. 

Abstract:

The January 2025 Eaton Wildfire in Los Angeles County created an unprecedented vector control challenge for the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGVMVCD). Widespread structural destruction and more than 1,400 non-functional swimming pools generated extensive mosquito breeding habitats, requiring rapid and sustained intervention. While the District successfully implemented control, surveillance, and education operations after the disaster, securing financial reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) required navigating complex regulatory frameworks and documentation standards. This presentation outlines the District’s experience applying for and obtaining FEMA and CalOES reimbursement for mosquito control activities conducted under a federally declared disaster. Through the combined use of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) Emergency Preparedness Document, FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG), the California Health and Safety Code, and the standing Cooperative Agreement between special districts and the State of California, SGVMVCD demonstrated that post-disaster vector control activities were both necessary and reimbursable. Key to this success were longstanding relationships with public health partners and the development of new collaborations with emergency management professionals, which proved instrumental in validating the public health necessity of mosquito abatement within disaster recovery operations. The lessons learned through this process provide a foundation for other vector control agencies facing similar circumstances. By establishing clear precedent and documentation pathways, the SGVMVCD experience supports future recognition of mosquito control as an essential reimbursable activity during natural disaster response and recovery efforts.  

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