What causes cockroaches to come during the flood?

Recently, several cities in the JABODETABEK region have been paralysed for several days due to heavy floods caused by heavy rains falling continuously during the new year’s nights.

According to a report by the ASEAN Humanitarian Aid Coordinating Centre (AHA Centre) in Disaster Relief, floods in Jakarta have submerged approximately 1,300 homes and 147,000 family heads in 74 districts across Jakarta since 1 January, 2020.

After the Jakarta floods receded, every homeowner is now confused by the new problems that arise when they return to their homes. Because of this fact, floods are capable of causing property and letters to be severely destroyed and damaged, leading to the potential transmission of dangerous waterborne diseases.

Moreover, flood disasters are also known to increase the risk of unwanted pests coming in to haunt any homeowner, such as cockroach pests. It’s no secret that many cockroaches will infest their nests and move into your home to build new nests and source food during and after floods.

In this article, we will share important information about cockroach pests that often arise when floods arrive. This includes:

• What causes cockroach infestations during floods?
• What is the danger of cockroaches to humans after a flood?
• Tips on how to prevent cockroaches from breeding after a flood
   

What causes cockroach infestations during floods?

Of the many photos circulating during the Jakarta floods, there is one disgusting photo that went viral and caught the attention of social media users in Indonesia. This is a photo of a large cockroach sticking to the wall of one of the homeowners’ houses during a flood in Jakarta.

Like it or not, the phenomenon of many cockroach infestations during and after floods is something that cannot be avoided. This is certainly not a coincidence that there are many cockroach infestations, because severe cockroach problems can arise at any time, both during floods and even after low tide.

Naturally, sewer systems in residential areas are one of the cockroaches’ habitats and preferred places for American cockroaches. Naturally, sewer systems in residential areas are one of the cockroaches’ habitats and preferred places for American cockroaches. When this happens, cockroaches will migrate to find new shelter elsewhere, including your home.

Can cockroaches swim during floods?

The answer is no. Cockroaches cannot and will not swim, although their bodies actually allow them to float for a while on the water.

Therefore, when they know that the waterways have risen or will overflow when flooding arrives, the cockroaches will move up from the bottom to the top by finding a way out through the water pipes or crevices.

What is the danger of cockroaches to people after floods?

Whether it floods or not, finding many cockroach infestations and their appearance in the living environment is certainly a serious problem that cannot be underestimated.

At least two dangers from cockroaches are present after floods, namely:

• Potential problems with many cockroaches in the future
• Risk of transmission of disease caused by cockroaches

Potential problems with many cockroaches in the future

Many cockroach infestations are a sign of humid and warm conditions in your house after the flood. This attracts them to build a new home and breed well there. In addition, flooding also opens the door for many cockroach problems in your home in the future.

Risk of transmission of disease caused by cockroaches
 

Leptospirosis is a cockroach-related disease that often occurs during floods. People generally get leptospirosis when they have direct contact with flooded water or soil containing cockroach droppings (cockroach urine, feces, or vomit).

Tips on how to prevent cockroaches from breeding after floods

Here are four ways you can prevent cockroaches from leaving and staying at home after a flood:

1. Remove debris and carryover waste during floods
2. Prevent excess moisture in the home
3. Throw away all consumer goods contaminated with flood water
4. Repair damaged leaks or pipes

1. Remove debris and carryover waste from floods

One of the first and most important things you should do is remove debris and carryover waste from your home during and after floods.

Debris and waste during floods generally consist of organic materials such as cardboard, wooden branches, or other decaying objects. In addition to having a negative effect on human health, this debris is a new food source for cockroaches after a flood and will be a strong magnet for them to be in your home.

2. Prevent excess moisture in the home

There is no doubt that floods will increase the level of moisture around your home. And of course, it’s not easy to dry your entire home, as it takes a few weeks or more to really make sure your home is dry after a flood.

Moist conditions help mold multiply, and growing mold is one of the causes of cockroach infestations. There are several things that may help you prevent humid conditions after a flood, such as:

• Drying items outdoors in direct sunlight.
• Open windows in all rooms, even in non-wet or dry rooms.
• Use the fan to circulate air over wet surfaces, such as wet carpets or wooden floors.
• Invest in a dehumidifier to create a drier climate inside your home.
• Throw away all your weathered and damp furniture because it was exposed to flood water. Because this furniture could be the main choice for where they live in the future if you keep it.

3. Throw away all consumer goods contaminated with flood water

Throw away all kinds of medicines, food, and other consumer goods that came into contact with the flood waters. All consumer goods exposed to or contaminated with flood water are at high risk of contamination with bacteria such as salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococci, commonly carried by cockroaches during floods.

4. Repair damaged leaks or pipes

Still associated with point one above, a damaged leak or pipe will increase the moisture level in your home.

Floods will generally cause damage to the core of the house, and one example is a broken water pipe. These situations are often used by cockroaches to meet their need to multiply immediately after low tide.

If you find more and more cockroach infestations even after following the post-flood prevention tips above, contact Rentokil immediately to help you remove your existing cockroach problem.