On September 10, 1996 I received a phone call from David Darlington, Director of Intergovernmental & Constituent Affairs, office of the Governor; State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations requesting assistance in dealing with an outbreak of EE in Rhode Island.

They had detected EE in some of the towns along the Connecticut border, had applied some Bt larvicide, and now wanted to apply some adulticide, Scourge (resmethrin). I understood that at some time in the recent past, Rhode Island had discontinued their mosquito abatement program, while continuing the surveillance. As I understood it, each community was expected to set up their own program if they wished, but apparently at this time they did not have extensive, if any, provisions in place for area wide abatement programs, covering several towns. It also appears that none, or few, of the towns had a program established within each town. Therefore, when this outbreak occurred, Rhode Island had little or no resources available for dealing with mosquitos or EE.

Massachusetts was asked if we could lend manpower and spray equipment to Rhode Island. At that time, the Massachusetts Projects were beginning to wind down from the 1996 season, and would have some resources available to send.

Jonathan Healy, Commissioner; Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture was consulted regarding whether or not it would be possible to send Massachusetts equipment to Rhode Island. Leo Roy, Assistant Secretary of The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs was also consulted, and it was decided that we could send equipment and personnel to Rhode Island to deal with their EE problem.

After talking to the projects, I called Rhode Island and agreed to send equipment and personnel from the Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk Projects. Though I was confident the other Projects could and would be willing to help, I chose these as the ones with the most extensive background and experience in dealing with EE issues, and they were the nearest ones to Rhode Island.

I requested that Rhode Island make arrangements whereby the Massachusetts pesticide licenses would be valid in their state. Rhode Island declared all such Massachusetts licenses were valid in Rhode Island for the duration of the 1996 EE concern. It was made clear that any pesticide to be applied would be furnished by Rhode Island, and all expenses incurred by the Projects would be reimbursed by Rhode Island. It was also made clear that if the Massachusetts equipment were needed back in their respective areas, they would be

pulled out from Rhode Island. Rhode Island agreed to all the conditions and fortunately it was never necessary to bring back equipment during this project.

The effort was begun the next day, with trucks from the three Projects being sent to meet at the Rhode Island capitol building in Providence for dispatching to the areas they were needed.

The three Projects worked in Rhode Island periodically from September 11, 1996 through September 24, 1996. Norfolk furnished 6 applicators and 5 trucks for 4 days, covering 2,062 miles. Plymouth sent 6 applicators and 5 trucks for 3 days covering 1879 miles. Bristol dispatched 4 applicators and 4 trucks for 3 days covering 1316 miles. The towns involved were: Westerly, Tiverton, Little Compton, Charlestown and Kingston. The total bill to Rhode Island for labor and mileage was $7,148.14.

There was a great deal of media coverage regarding this EE outbreak, from newspapers, radio and TV from Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The communities affected were very appreciative for our help.

By the end of September - early October, 1996 it was apparent that there no longer was any need to continue to spray in Rhode Island. I spoke to our Projects involved and with Ralph Timperi, Assistant Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and was told that there was no longer any valid reason to continue to spray. I spoke to Mr. Darlington, of the Rhode

Island Governor's office and indicated we would discontinue spraying in Rhode Island

unless it could be shown that a need continued to exist. I suggested that Mr. Darlington call Ralph Timperi, and if after doing so he still felt there was a need to continue, we would do so.

This was also communicated to some of the Rhode Island towns, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. No request to continue applying was received from the Office of the Rhode Island Governor, and we discontinued spraying.

In Massachusetts during this 1996 season, the Department of Public Health continued to monitor for EE from May through the end of September as per a long standing practice of many years. Although it was reported in a newspaper that Massachusetts didn't even start looking for the virus until after Rhode Island detected it, this was incorrect. During the 1996 season, no EE viral isolates were detected, including the period during which Rhode Island and Connecticut found EE.

I highly commend the Projects for the efforts they put out during this effort. As far as I know, this may be the first time one state went to the assistance of another for mosquito control in the country, certainly a first for New England. All involved did so with efficiency, ability and professionalism. They were a credit to the Massachusetts Mosquito programs, and I have absolutely no doubt that if the other Projects had been asked to participate they would have performed equally as well.

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