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Beware Of Idalia’s Toxic Stew

As the cleanup continues in the path of Hurricane Idalia which made landfall on Florida’s Gulf coast Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, officials are warning about the lingering risks,…

Beware Of Idalia's Toxic Stew Young boy with short blue trowsers wading with wet socks and wet boots through high tide after a floodwater has broken the dike and overflown the lands behind
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As the cleanup continues in the path of Hurricane Idalia which made landfall on Florida’s Gulf coast Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, officials are warning about the lingering risks, like the toxic stew.  Sure, the Big Bend area took the brunt of the damage, but two days after making landfall well to our north, residents of Tampa Bay are still grappling with flooded yards and, unfortunately, homes.

Some of the effects of the storm have nothing to do with sustained winds or prolonged storm surge.  Instead, its now about the disgusting risks that those forces brought to our doorsteps…risks like flesh-eating bacteria, mosquitos and mold.

At a news conference Thursday, Florida’s Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo urged Floridians to take precautions after Idalia to ensure their own health as well as the health of those around them.  Here’s some of the dangers that were highlighted at the briefing:

  • Vibrio Vulnificus: It’s an infection caused by a flesh-eating bacteria that thrives in floodwaters.  38 cases were reported last year in Lee and Collier counties following Ian.  Most of the time people get infected by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, but some Vibrio species get their hooks in you by causing an infection when an open wound is exposed to salt or brackish water.  20% of people who get the infection will die from it.
  • Mosquitos are another huge problem in the wake of the storm. Standing water is a petri dish for them, and is likely to produce an uptick in mosquito-borne illnesses like Malatia and dengue.  There were already 11 cases reported locally this summer before the storm, and that number is sure to explode now.  Use bug spray, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay away from standing water, especially at sunset.
  • Mold is one of the risks that develop inside the home, not outside. It only takes a day or two for mold to develop in a flooded home, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and our humidity levels speed up the process even more.  Some people only get watery eyes or a slight cough, but for those who have asthma or immune disorders are susceptible to fungal infections that could become quite serious.  FEMA says to use fans to dry out the home.  I say, call a water mitigation expert.

To learn more, click here.

Sick of picking up your phone only to discover it's another scam call? Then blocking these 9 scam numbers can help immediately and bring you a sense of relief. A company called BeenVerified has report that over 150,000 suspicious phone numbers in the past two years and they've narrowed it down to these nine spam and scam numbers. These numbers also lead to hundreds of complaints or more. Most of the scam numbers also fire off scam text messages to trick unsuspecting victims into clicking links.

Scams going around Florida:

Another scam that’s going around right now is having a police officer offer call you claiming you missed federal jury duty. Good thing about this scam is you can easily Google the number to check your juror duty status. Make sure you ask several questions if someone is calling you saying this information. They might come off as knowledgeable, but you can trip them up if you know what you’re talking about.

Scams in Tampa, come in various forms and target many different individuals. It is important for you to be aware and protect yourself from thieves and finances. There’s been multiple scams reported in Florida recently including email scams, phone, home improvement, fake charity and even rental scams. The home improvement scams will be someone offering services to fix your roof, driveway, or landscaping at incredibly low prices. Usually, they want payment first and then either perform subpar work or completely disappear.

Make sure you protect yourself by being cautious. Don’t be so quick to share personal information, and always research before handing over your information. Make sure it’s a legit business and charity using reputable platforms for financial transactions. Additionally, if there is any suspicious activities, call your local law enforcement to notify them of new scams in Tampa.

#1 - (865) 630-4266 — WellsFargo Account Notice

This is the top scam that's an automated text message warning victims that their Wells Fargo bank account had been temporarily locked. The scammers want you to call their fake number to give up their personal account information.

SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 16:  A sign is displayed outside of a Wells Fargo bank April 16, 2008 in San Francisco, California. San Francisco-based Wells Fargo and Company, the fifth largest bank in the U.S., reported an eleven percent drop in first quarter earnings as they continue to struggle with loan losses as the housing market slumps. The company reported earnings of $2 billion, or 60 cents per share, down from $2.24 billion, or 66 cents per share one year ago.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

#2 - (858) 605-9622 — [Bank Account Number] 'Temporarily ON HOLD!'

This is very similar to the previous one where they will spam out a text message: '[Bank name]: ACCNT #5674 temporarily ON HOLD! Your security is our priority. Call now: (858) 605-9622 (Do Not Disregard!)' They're trying to scare you in order to see get personal information.

Closeup of male hand holding modern mobile phone with red screen and warning icon with the text SCAM ALERT This site has been reported as fraudulent.Getty Royalty Free

#3 - (904) 495-2559 — 'AT&T Free Msg: Congrats to [number]!'

Look out for this text message 'ATT Free Msg: Congrats to 2 lucky users! Today's winners of our raffle are: Tim N***** and you, (Name)!' These give false promises that you'll get lottery cash and prizes.

Text message SMS scam or phishing conceptGetty Royalty Free

#4 - (805) 637-7243 — Congrats! Won Publisher's Clearing House!

These scammers claim to be from Publisher's Clearing House. They claim that an unpaid bill may result in freezing of their assets.

 Phone call from unknown number late at night. Scam, fraud or phishing with smartphone concept. Prank caller, scammer or stranger. Getty Royalty Free

#5 - (469) 709-7630 — 'Failed delivery attempt for [tracking number].'

This scam will make you feel like something had genuinely gone wrong with a real shipment. They will you for the last two digits of your SSN for verification. Just get off the phone because it's a scam.

Unknown caller show on mobile phone screen.  Getty Royalty Free

# 6 - (863) 532-7969 — 'Debit Card Frozen! Call!'

This one is betting on that fact that you have a debit card. They'll say everything is frozen and need your information to correct it.

Safe online payment and electronic money transfer security. Pay with digital technology. Man using credit card and laptop to login to internet bank. Financial safety to prevent scam, threat and fraud.Getty Royalty Free

#7 - (917) 540-7996 — 'Do you like scary movies?' marketing for 'Scream VI'

These complaints were filed from March 2023 in a scary voice message from the Scream movies from an unknown number. In the message it begins, 'Is this [user's name]? Oh good! It's funny how you can see someone's true character when they are alone. Or at least when they think they're alone. I have one question for you, [user's name]. Guess where I'm hiding?'

Beautiful Asian woman with smiley face holding and using the smart phone in modern cafeGetty Royalty Free

# 8 - (312) 339-1227 — 'Lose weight!' or 'Track your package'

These scams are using weight-loss products for a delivery scam. Again, these scams are looking for and need your information.

Bad News. Young woman checking the messages and post on her mobile phone. Shocked by reading the bad news on her smart phone. Urban Young Generation Social Media Lifestyle Portrait.Getty Royalty Free

# 9 - (202) 221-7923 — 'Student loan forgiveness. Call Kelsey'

This phone messages will allegedly be from a 'Kelsey Adams' about a deadline for student-loan forgiveness. They need you to act or your deadline will be missed.

Girl wearing eyeglasses with eyesight problems trying to read phone text at homeGetty Royalty Free
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