170912-F-ZK766-0009

U.S. Airmen with the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, prepare a C-130H Hercules for an aerial spray mission over the area effected by Hurricane Harvey, Sept. 12, 2017, at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field Annex, Texas. The 910th AW operates the Department of Defense’s only aerial spray capability to control pest insect populations, eliminate undesired and invasive vegetation and disperse oil spills in large bodies of water. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) have requested the support of the 910th to treat potentially millions of affected acres for mosquito control purposes. Due to large amounts of standing, polluted water, the numbers of pest insects that can transmit diseases are increasing significantly. This situation poses a potential health risk to residents of eastern Texas and is impacting first responders and recovery workers as clean-up and repair efforts continue.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Dyer)