It is imperative to generate public awareness about EAB before the insect is found. An informed public is much more cooperative than one that has not been adequately prepared.
Encourage local media to feature articles and interviews about EAB and how other communities are dealing with related issues.
Let the community know that an EAB Readiness team is in place and working on a specific action plan. Keep the residents informed of progress and the needs of the municipality to address this issue.
Invite experts to speak on EAB at appropriate community events such as Arbor Day programs or meetings of Master Gardeners or other gardening groups.
Obtain EAB flyers, leaflets, and education handouts from the IDNR’s Community and Urban Forestry office or the Exotic Insects Education Coordinator at Purdue University. Place EAB information in libraries, park centers, community centers, government centers, and other public gathering places.
The official announcement that EAB has been identified in your community will come from the IDNR, Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology. After the official announcement has been made, you may release information to your community through the Community EAB liaison.
The Office of the Mayor should release a statement for local media explaining what tools and resources the community has in place to help its residents, what the Plan of Action is, and what official recommendations are for businesses and private property owners.
Contact the IDNR’s Community & Urban Forestry Program and/or the Exotic Insects Education Coordinator at Purdue University to arrange for an EAB Informational Meeting for the public to discuss EAB, ash tree identification, and replacement plantings (List of contacts).
Urge residents to contact their local county extension office for help in identifying trees for identification of suspect insects. (Cooperative Extension contact numbers)
Activate Ash Wood Debris Marshalling Yards that were previously designated.
Inform citizens of services available to help with tree removals, woody debris management, and tree replacement through local news media outlets and community websites.
Encourage ash wood utilization using portable sawmills. When milling ash wood, sawyers need to be reminded to dispose of the bark debris as determined in their Compliance Agreement with the Indiana DNR and/or the USDA. Typically, ash logs from quarantined areas need to be edged ½ inch deeper than normal. The squared off log needs to be bark free with no insect pockets.
Contact the Indiana DNR’s Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology for a list of vendors who have Compliance Agreements with the IDNR for handling ash debris.
Inform media of where the public can take ash debris and any quarantine rules concerning who can remove and transport debris etc.
