EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER RESCUE TEAM
EVRT
After the devastating "Wheeler" Fire of 1985, the Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation (VCAR) brought together a number of horse owners, enthusiasts and experts to form a volunteer large animal rescue group subsequently known as Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (EVRT). Since that time there have fortunately only been a few incidents requiring activation of the group. Over the years we have lost touch with many of our original members while others have moved away or lost interest. In an effort to revitalize the group before the expected fire season is upon us, the Department, with the assistance of local E.T.I. Corrals, Horseplaycentral.com, and a number of our founding members, is making a concentrated effort to recruit qualified volunteers.
EVRT members assist VCAR during times of disasters such as wildland fires, flooding, earthquakes, or any emergency incident requiring the evacuation of livestock. Volunteers, using their own vehicles and equipment, may be sent into disaster areas to capture and transport animals to safety, assess the needs and requirements for emergency evacuation, assist VCAR personnel in the transportation, housing, care and maintenance of temporarily displaced animals, or perform a number of clerical, dispatch, organizational or training functions in conjunction with EVRT operations.
During a State of Emergency or Local Emergency, EVRT members are considered to be Registered Animal Rescue, Care and Shelter Disaster Service Workers (DSW). As registered DSW’s, EVRT members are provided worker’s compensation coverage and limited liability protection during disaster events and when attending EVRT training, practice and planning sessions. In order to qualify for DSW status, EVRT members must, beside registering with the VCAR, be registered with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES). Volunteers will be required to take a loyalty oath, complete a detailed registration form and be subject to a background investigation. Upon completion of all requirements, the OES will issue picture identification to EVRT Disaster Service Workers that will allow members access to closed and restricted disaster areas.
EVRT volunteers will be issued vehicle placards, EVRT vests, and all necessary forms, inventories, logs and paperwork needed to fulfill their responsibilities. Periodic training sessions and meetings are held to keep EVRT volunteers up to date. There are essentially two classifications of EVRT Disaster Services Workers:
EVRT- DSW I :
EVRT Volunteers of any age who are trained to perform some or all of the following functions and services for the Department of Animal Regulation during disaster incidents: Answer telephones; perform clerical duties; operate communications equipment including two-way radios, phones, amateur radios etc.; maintain written records; inventory animals, equipment and supplies; operate computer systems; order supplies; serve as liaison to other animal welfare, governmental or media agencies, groups or organizations; coordinate deployment of EVRT and Animal Regulation personnel; provide feed, care, oversight and maintenance of animals held for safe-keeping; provide training to Disaster Service Workers. Services may be provided from a County facility, private residence, in-field location, mobile command center, animal holding facility or other site as directed by the Department of Animal Regulation.
EVRT-DSW II :
EVRT volunteers over the age of 18 who are trained to perform any of the DSW I duties and/or perform the following functions and services for the Department of Animal Regulation during disaster incidents: Capture and transport animals from disaster areas to specified safe areas; assist in the evacuation of persons and property during disaster incidents; working in pairs and using personal vehicles and equipment, capture and transport animals to safety; assist VCAR personnel in the performance of a variety of in-field functions.
Incident Name: Name assigned by County Fire Dept. to each incident (i.e.: Wheeler Incident)
Incident Command Center: Area designated by Co. Fire for coordination of all Government responders
Emergency Operations Center (EOC): Location in basement of Hall of Justice/Sheriff Dept. Headquarters or City Police/Fire HQ where representatives of all emergency responders coordinate efforts during major disasters.
Incident Commander: (1-F-city code): Animal Reg. employee assigned to overall management of incident
Incident Liaison (2-F-city code): Animal Regulation employee assigned to coordinate at Incident Command Center
Public Information Officer (PIO): Animal Regulation employee assigned to media relations
Area Director: EVRT Volunteer who is contact person for Animal Regulation. Phones all volunteers, maintains communications, coordinates training, maintains volunteer contact list, assigns volunteers.
Area Coordinator: EVRT volunteer who all volunteer responders report to in field. Is dispatched by Area Director to pre-determined Staging Area. Deploys volunteers, coordinates with A.R. staff, selects Safe areas and Staging Areas etc.
Rescue Team: Two EVRT-DSW II members and one rescue vehicle with trailer.
Strike Team: Five EVRT Rescue Teams and one Animal Regulation/Humane Society/Sheriffs Posse Vehicle
Strike Team Leader: Animal Regulation/Humane Society/Sheriffs Posse employee in charge of Strike Team Safety and Deployment.
Dispatcher: Animal Regulation employee who receives requests from Incident command, the public and AR staff and deploys rescuers. Contact person for Area Directors and Incident Liaison.
Mobile 7: Animal Regulation Dept. Command Post in the Field.
Control 7: Animal Regulation fixed Dispatch Center in Camarillo.
Staging Area: Location selected by AR Staff and Area Coordinator for assembling of trailers, Mobile 7, volunteers and equipment.
Safe Area: As circumstances require, an area selected for animals to be walked into and held for trailer pick-up. Animals temporarily held until rescued.
Holding Facility: Location selected by Animal Regulation staff for long-term housing of evacuated animals.
Evacuation Center: Location designated by Co. Fire I.C. for human evacuation.
Evac. Coordinator: Animal Regulation employee or EVRT volunteer assigned to Evacuation Center.
Holding Facility Manager: Animal Regulation employee assigned to Holding Facility. Coordinates intake, care and feeding, supplies, and volunteer efforts.
Receiver: EVRT volunteers assigned to animal intake at Holding Facility.
Caregiver: EVRT volunteers assigned to animal care, feeding, watering and cleaning at Holding Facility.
Disaster Areas: The County has been divided into five (5) general areas for animal disaster coordination. These designations and the areas covered are:
Reminder: In fire areas it is unwise to have any type of flammable bedding material or hay in the back of tow vehicles or in trailers. Unless licensed by local law enforcement, no firearms should be carried or worn by EVRT volunteers.
Reminder: Polyester melts in high heat. The outermost garment and those closest to the skin should be cotton or nomex.