Some weeds reached nearly seven feet, forcing Mathis to take unusual action to protect public health.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Recent rains may have turned Mathis green, but city leaders say all that new growth came with an unwelcome buzz.
An explosion of grass and weeds across the city has created ideal hiding places for mosquitoes, rodents and snakes. In some locations, vegetation reached as high as seven feet, prompting Mayor Ciri Villarreal to declare a local emergency so city crews could mow some of the worst properties, including privately owned lots.
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“With the grass being so high, of course comes mosquitoes, comes the rodents, snakes, and it’s a hazard. It’s a hazard for citizens,” Mayor Villarreal said.
The emergency declaration gave crews authority they normally do not have. Instead of waiting for the city’s standard code enforcement process, workers were able to enter selected private properties where officials determined overgrown vegetation had become a public safety concern.
“Our mayor declared a state of emergency under the Health & Safety Code and put all of our emergency management resources that we have available toward knocking down high grass in some area 6 feet or 7 feet tall,” City Manager Cedric Davis said.
Mosquitoes thrive after periods of heavy rain because even small amounts of standing water become breeding grounds. A single female mosquito can lay hundreds of eggs at one time, and under warm South Texas conditions, mosquitoes can develop from egg to biting adult in as little as a week. Tall grass also provides cool, shaded areas where adult mosquitoes rest during the heat of the day.
City crews have cleared just over 30 overgrown properties since the emergency order took effect. Even so, officials estimate roughly 120 more lots still need attention.
“We are trying to do as much as we can with the timeframe and the monies that we have,” Mayor Villarreal said. “We can’t do them all, but we’re trying to do as much as we can.”
City leaders say they are now looking for additional funding that could allow another emergency declaration and another round of mowing.
Until then, officials are encouraging property owners to keep grass cut short, remove standing water from around their homes and eliminate anything that could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes as South Texas heads deeper into the summer and possibly more rain soon.