How Hurricane Helene’s destruction led to swarms of bees, wasps, yellow jackets
By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)
As thousands continue to recover from deadly Hurricane Helene another danger is lurking: yellow jackets, wasps and bees. Reports of stings from swarms of the insects increased as underground bee colonies and wasps’ nests have been disturbed or washed away from severe flooding.
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See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
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North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsHelene disrupts yellow jacket, bee nests in North Carolina, prompting massive Benadryl, EpiPen requests
Click to see story on CBS NewsNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on WCSHNorth Carolina distributes medication as yellow jackets swarm after Helene
Click to see story on NewsweekNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WPLGNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WKMGNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KCRA 3North Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WCVBNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WLWTNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WMURNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WLKYNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WESHNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KOB 4North Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KETVNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WDSUNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WYFFNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WTAENorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KCCINorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KMBCNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WISNNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WBAL-TVNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WPTZNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WMTWNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WVTMNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WAPTNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KOATNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WCBDNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WGALNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KSBWYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on WLTXYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on WBIRNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WJCLYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on Krem2 NewsNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on FOX CarolinaNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KHBSYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on KTVBYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on 13 News NowNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding – KION546
Click to see story on KIONRight
Untracked Bias
North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Medical XpressNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning SunNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on MOR-TVNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on thealbertan.comNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on theafrica.co.zaThe increase in stings forced state officials to adjust on the fly and get EpiPens and Benadryl ready for statewide distribution.
North Carolina announced on Friday, Oct. 4, that it was buying up the medications and said officials would give the medications to residents through hospitals, emergency medical services and other health providers soon.
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Those allergic to the insects’ venom can die from one sting if medical help isn’t quickly available. Health experts also warned that being stung more than a dozen times can lead to a severe reaction, which can lead to convulsions, vomiting and fever. Additionally, doctors said that individuals should wait to clear trees from their property until nighttime, when the bees and wasps are least active.
If a person does encounter a swarm, experts said they should put their hands over their face and walk away slowly to avoid stings.
Many of those stung are reportedly line workers trying to restore power to hard-hit communities.
In the meantime, state officials told those with deathly allergies to stings to get emergency refills at local pharmacies and carry emergency medication at all times.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
AS THOUSANDS STRUGGLE RECOVER FROM DEADLY HURRICANE HELENE ANOTHER DANGER IS LURKING.
YELLOW JACKETS, WASPS AND BEES.
REPORTS OF STINGS FROM SWARMS OF THE INSECTS HAVE SEEN A RISE AS UNDERGROUND BEE COLONIES AND WASPS’ NESTS HAVE BEEN DISTURBED OR WASHED AWAY FROM FLOODING.
IT’S FORCING STATE OFFICIALS TO ADJUST ON THE FLY AND GET EPIPENS AND BENADRYL READY FOR STATEWIDE DISTRIBUTION.
NORTH CAROLINA IS BUYING UP THE MEDICATIONS AND SAY THEY WILL BE GIVEN TO RESIDENTS THROUGH HOSPITALS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS SOON.
THOSE ALLERGIC TO THE INSECTS VENOM CAN DIE FROM ONE STING IF MEDICAL HELP ISN’T QUICKLY AVAILABLE.
HEALTH EXPERTS ALSO WARN BEING STUNG MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES CAN LEAD TO A SEVERE REACTION, WHICH CAN LEAD TO CONVULSIONS, VOMITING AND FEVER.
ADDING, RESIDENTS SHOULD WAIT TO CLEAR TREES FROM PROPERTY UNTIL NIGHT TIME WHEN BEES AND WASPS ARE LEAST ACTIVE.
IF THEY ENCOUNTER A SWARM, EXPERTS SAY TO PUT YOUR HANDS OVER YOUR FACE AND WALK AWAY SLOWLY TO AVOID STINGS.
MANY OF THOSE STUNG ARE LINEWORKERS TRYING TO RESTORE POWER TO HARD-HIT COMMUNITIES.
IN THE MEANTIME, STATE OFFICIALS TELL THOSE DEATHLY ALLERGIC TO STINGS TO GET EMERGENCY REFILLS AT LOCAL PHARMACIES AND CARRY EMERGENCY MEDS HANDY AT ALL TIMES.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsHelene disrupts yellow jacket, bee nests in North Carolina, prompting massive Benadryl, EpiPen requests
Click to see story on CBS NewsNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on WCSHNorth Carolina distributes medication as yellow jackets swarm after Helene
Click to see story on NewsweekNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WPLGNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WKMGNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KCRA 3North Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WCVBNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WLWTNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WMURNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WLKYNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WESHNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KOB 4North Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KETVNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WDSUNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WYFFNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WTAENorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KCCINorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KMBCNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WISNNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WBAL-TVNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WPTZNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WMTWNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WVTMNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WAPTNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KOATNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WCBDNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WGALNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KSBWYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on WLTXYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on WBIRNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on WJCLYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on Krem2 NewsNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on FOX CarolinaNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on KHBSYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on KTVBYellow jackets swarm in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene flooding
Click to see story on 13 News NowNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding – KION546
Click to see story on KIONRight
Untracked Bias
North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on Medical XpressNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning SunNorth Carolina distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as bees swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on MOR-TVNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on thealbertan.comNorth Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Click to see story on theafrica.co.zaStraight to your inbox.
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