Author: FBLID 11

The Department of Homeland Security has launched a formal review of FEMA’s disaster assistance programs. Local entities—especially special purpose districts—are encouraged to submit feedback by May 15, 2025.

The Council is posing five core questions as part of its public comment solicitation. Special districts providing their feedback are encouraged to answer these questions in five pages or less.

1. Describe your experience with FEMA’s response to your request for assistance. Was FEMA’s response timely and efficient to assist in your recovery?

2. Describe your overall experience with FEMA. Was your interaction with FEMA positive or negative? Please fully explain your experience.

3. By what means did you apply for benefits—was it online, in person, or over the phone? Did you encounter any difficulties?

4. Were local or state authorities or private groups able to provide assistance in a more timely or efficient way than FEMA? Please fully describe your experience.

5. What recommendations would you like the Council to make?

Official guidelines for making your comment are here.

How to Submit Comments (reference “Docket No. DHS-2025-0013”):

We strongly encourage member districts to share their experience and contribute to the federal dialogue shaping FEMA’s future disaster policies.

TLDR – “Too long, didn’t read”

• Get ready for summer
• Ants bite (actually sting) PG 2, 1st bullet point
• Mow frequently
• Irrigation check-up

April in review

April mainly had “chamber of commerce” weather, as expected. We did have a few rainy days, but overall, it was dry enough that we didn’t have persistent soggy conditions.

May – Action items for your lawn, landscape, and garden

In our area and for my money, Summer starts this month. I can’t tell you which day, but one morning you will walk out the door in the morning to temps in the mid-80s and 90% plus humidity and the sun will just be coming up and you will know, “it’s summer”.

Garden

Gardeners should expect their work to pay off heavily this month. Many of our traditional crops, like tomatoes and squash, produce best this month. True high heat crops like peppers, melons, purple hull peas, and okra, will start to take off as well

Lawn

• Mowing – Weekly mowing should persist until late October. Let me ask you one question though, “when was the last time you changed or sharpened your mower blade?” Sharp mower blades make mowing easier especially on a push mower, they give you a sharper finished look to your lawn, and the clean cut of the grass is healthier for your lawn.
• Fertilization
  • Lawns – if you still have not fertilized your lawn yet this year go ahead. Otherwise, let hold off and plan our next application for the first of June.
  • Roses – monthly applications of a quality rose food will give the best rose bushes on the block.
• Herbicide – The following is a rehash of what I said last month, but it works and weeds happen. I recommend using a spot treatment with a sprayer for any weeds that appear. Here are a few options that come ready to use Spectracide Weed Stop or Bioadvanced All in One. Either of those will treat weeds and crabgrass. Wait 2-3 days after you mow to treat, and don’t mow for 2-3 days after treating.
• Pest – “April showers bring May flowers” is a song or nursery rhyme, in reality, “showers bring ants.” With more heat and humidity, we tend to have more showers this time of year, and the ants come out to play….. or sting. Three approaches have proven successful for me.
  • Option 1 – Fipronil is a chemical that provides 12 months of protection. It both kills active mounds quickly and remains active for a long time. The downside is that a professional licensed applicator must apply it. This also treats for fleas and ticks, so if you have pets, there is another benefit.
  • Option 2 – Apply a DIY granule insecticide like Amdro, Extinguish Plus, or Once and Done. Then follow up with mound treatment with a dust or liquid. The granule is slow to kill but is a great preventative. The mound treatment gives you fast results.
  • Option 3 – “Tarrow” is a Borax solution you apply to a piece of cardboard, and the workers carry the poison down to the colony. I have observed significantly higher kill rates than many of the mound treatments, where you see dead ants on top of the mound, followed by a new mound 5 feet away. It is also cheap, and you pick up the cardboard with the chemical on it and discard it a day or two later, and you are not leaving ant poison in your yard. I like this option if you have children or animals you don’t want to expose to the chemical pesticides used in other treatments.
• Irrigation – this is your last warning: “CHECK YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM!” Will you need it to save your lawn and landscape this month? Probably not, but next month, you likely will. If you have a busted backflow preventer from a freeze, now is the time to deal with it.

Gentle rains and green grass,

Hunter Soape