Neighborhood residents of the Park Cities may hear the buzz of low-flying airplanes on Friday night as elected officials in both municipalities approved aerial spraying on Tuesday for the deadly West Nile virus.
One-quarter of all U.S. cases of West Nile have been recorded in North Texas, where the deadly virus has claimed 14 lives in the last few weeks, among them a Highland Park resident.
"We are the center point of this issue," said University Park Mayor Richard Davis. "And that we are spraying with the same spray that we have been using for two months ... the idea is to get more complete coverage because the spray from our trucks doesn't necessarily get high places or places that are shielded."
Aerial spraying will likely take place from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Planes will fly as low as 300 feet to deliver the spray over University Park, Highland Park, Mesquite, Garland and large sections of the City of Dallas, if the Dallas City Council approves of spraying on Wednesday.
Other cities in Dallas County have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to decide if they’ll participate in aerial spraying.
Highland Park and University Park residents will be notified of spraying details through their respective emergency notification systems.
Ground spraying, which started Monday, continues in both Highland Park and University Park through overnight hours Wednesday.
The Highland Park School District, meantime, said students may bring bug spray with them when classes begin on Monday, Aug. 27. Student athletes, such as girls cross country runners, have been urged to apply spray during training, said Helen Williams, HPISD Communications Director.
"Special attention is being paid to those students who participate in outdoor activities," Williams said. "We are constantly monitoring the situation."
Residents have expressed concerns about the human health effects and possible effects to honey bees of aerial spraying.
Dallas County has contracted with Clarke, an environmental services company, which has handled aerial mosquito spraying across the country. County officials said a fleet of up to five planes should be available by Friday at the latest.
Once the FAA approves airspace, planes will disperse chemicals in specific areas at night, using GPS systems to precisely deliver spray, officials said.
Authorities said they're trying aerial spraying because tiny droplets dispersed behind trucks can't scale the high walls, tall homes, and dense foliage in parts of North Dallas, University Park and Highland Park.
Still, some residents say they'd rather risk mosquitoes than chemicals. University Park resident Meg Hillert, 65, held up a sign in front of University Park City Hall during the Council's meeting on Tuesday, declaring “Stop Aerial Spray!”
Other local residents said West Nile has become a public emergency and requires action.
Seventy-year-old George Streckmann, who has lived in Highland Park for the past 45 years, said he supports the Town's decision about spraying but still has concerns about the effects of the chemicals.
"I guess you have to do it," Streckmann said. "It's really a no-win deal."