Fwd: Release: Road Closures & Recovery Efforts Underway

Damage Assessments, Road Closures & Recovery Efforts Underway

FLORENCE, AZ – Pinal County Public Works and public safety employees have been hard at work to ensure the safety of the public during and after yesterday's severe storms.  Crews worked overnight to block impassable roads and assist public utilities with safety issues related to downed power lines.

Recovery from the storms is underway in throughout Pinal County.  In some cases, roads cannot be reopened until utility crews can repair damage to their infrastructure.  We will work to ensure that updated information is made available as soon as possible.

Closures as of 10:00 AM Friday, August 19:

San Manuel AreaRiver Road is closed at the San Pedro River crossing

Mammoth AreaCopper Creek Road is closed at the San Pedro River crossing

Arizona CitySunland Gin Road from Harmon Road to Pretzer Road closed due to downed power lines
Harmon Road from Toltec Highway to Estrella Road closed due to downed power lines

San Tan Valley
Hunt Highway from Thistle Trail to Johnson Ranch Boulevard due to downed power lines

Eloy AreaHouser Road from Highway 87 to La Palma Road closed due to high water
Shedd Road from Highway 87 to La Palma Road closed due to high water
La Palma Road from Shedd Road north to Arica Road closed due to high water

Red Rock AreaSasco Road from Hollis Road west to the Pima County line is closed due to wash out at the Santa Cruz River crossing.

How you can help your Public Works staff

Pinal County Public Works is asking residents to contact us at (520) 866-6411 or email us at pcroadmaintenance@pinalcountyaz.gov if there is any debris on county roads or if road repairs are needed. 

NOTE:  For neighborhood roads within master planned communities, please contact your homeowner's association.  If you live in a municipality, please contact your city to report street and road problems.

Please provide the following information:

• Name of road 
• Between what cross streets (example: Thistle Road to Johnson Ranch Boulevard)
• Specifics about the problem (debris in road, tree limbs in road, road flooded or washed out, signs down, traffic signal not functioning, etc.)
• Your name
• A phone number to contact you if we need further information

We appreciate your assistance in alerting us to road hazards that would affect the traveling public.

Mosquito Fogging set for Maricopa and San Tan Valley

FLORENCE – Pinal County Environmental Health Services announced today that adult mosquito fogging will be conducted in Maricopa and San Tan Valley beginning Tuesday, August 2 through Thursday, August 4.  Mosquitoes trapped during routine surveillance for West Nile virus tested positive, resulting in the need to fog the area to prevent transmission of the disease to humans.

 

So far this year, there has not been a reported human case of West Nile virus in Pinal County.

08/02/2011 – 08/03/2011 in SAN TAN VALLEY – Area encompasses Bella Vista to the north, Union Pacific Railroad Tracks to the east, Omega Drive to the south and Gantzel Road to the west between the hours of 11:00 pm to Midnight.

 

08/03/2011 – 08/04/2011 in the CITY OF MARICOPA – Area encompasses:  John Wayne Parkway to the east, Sage Brush Drive to the south, Green Road to the west and McDavid Road to the north between the hours of 1:00 am to 5:00 am.      

The pesticide that will be used during fogging is called Anvil.  It is a pre-mixed, ready-to-use product that contains two active ingredients:  Sumithrin (2%) and piperonyl butoxide (2%). Sumithrin is a man-made version of a natural pesticide found in chrysanthemum flowers.  Piperonyl butoxide enhances the ability of Sumithrin to kill mosquitoes.  Anvil is registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency and is effective against the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus.
 
There are several things that residents can do to reduce exposure during fogging:

• Close all windows and doors. Air conditioners can still be operated, but if they have vents to bring in outside air, they should be closed.  Turn off evaporative coolers.
• Stay inside your home.
• If possible, bring pets inside.
• Thirty minutes after the end of the scheduled fogging each night, you may resume normal activities.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito.  West Nile virus can cause severe illness in people and horses, although not everyone who is infected will develop symptoms.  People of all ages can be affected however, the elderly may be more prone to serious illness.  County health officials urge all county residents to "Fight the Bite" and follow these simple personal precautions to avoid mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry:

• Avoid outside activity between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• If you must be outdoors when mosquitoes are active, wear lightweight clothing that covers your arms and legs and use an insect repellent containing an EPA registered active ingredient such as DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.  Always follow the directions on the label.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-tighting screens and remain closed.  Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes in them.
• Eliminate mosquito-breeding sites around the home by removing standing water in potted plants, tires, bird baths and other containers where water may collect.
• Ensure that swimming pools and decorative water features are properly maintained.
• Change water in flowerpots, birdbaths and pet watering bowls located outdoors at least twice per week.

 

What Are the Symptoms of West Nile?

No Symptoms in Most People.  Approximately, 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with West Nile will not show any symptoms at all.

 

Milder Symptoms in Some People.  Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back.  Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.

 

Serious Symptoms in a Few People.  About one in 150 people infected with West Nile will develop severe illness.  The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.  These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

 

The County has a mosquito hotline and a webpage. If you would like information on mosquito prevention and control, please call: 866-287-0209, ext. 6200, or visit the West Nile virus webpage at:  http://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/Departments/EnvironmentalHealth/Pages/Home.aspx.