12/01/2025
BE PREPARED. HAVE A PLAN.
EVRT: Emergency VOLUNTEER Rescue Team
The Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (or EVRT) was established in 1985 by Ventura County Animal Services. This is an on-call emergency volunteer group whose members are residents of Ventura County. This group is activated by VCAS personnel during declared disasters. This team primarily assists in the evacuation of livestock and domestic animals to safe, predetermine locations within Ventura County. Since 1985, EVRT has participated in every wildfire where a countywide emergency was declared.
VCAS: Ventura County Animal Services is a designated disaster response agency. If you are ordered to evacuate and are unable to transport your animals, please call (805) 388-4341.
This is what I have learned per VCAS Officer Hoffmann and VOLUNTEER Lead members of the EVRT Team:
WHEN an emergency is declared the Sheriff OES ACTIVATES EVRT via VCAS.
This is when the all important SPECIAL contact number will be posted on VCAS website https://www.vcas.us/ AND VCAS page https://www.facebook.com/VCAnimalServices.
The number is specific to the Declared emergency event. It is not the VCAS main phone number.
IF and WHEN a MANDATORY evacuation of an area(s) is declared, an assembled EVRT team is deployed from locations across Ventura County where the EVRT team members live (and their trailers), to the Mandatory Evacuation Zone(s) https://www.vcemergency.com/ via 3 designated LEAD VOLUNTEER EVRT team members. I am stressing Volunteer as that is what they are. They are not employees of the county, however, they are declared as an arm of First Responders who are able to cross into mandatory evacuation zones legally and safely.
This is the really important part SHOULD YOUR PREPARED PLANS FAIL and you require assistance:
A SPECIFIC CONTACT NUMBER WILL BE POSTED on the VCAS Website and page THIS IS THE NUMBER TO REQUEST HELP TO EVACUATE YOUR ANIMALS
This contact information will not be posted during non emergency times. Again to repeat, in the event of a disaster emergency, the EVRT team can only deploy once OES/Sheriff declares there is an emergency.
Should you require assistance please be prepared to give your name, contact information, location of your animals and how many and kind of animals, how to access the property, any special circumstances.
Please note Stallions cannot be loaded with other horses nor be admitted to designated County Evacuations sites.
Additionally, EVRT is a mobilized team for Ventura County only.
The exception is when a neighboring county OFFICIALLY REQUESTS MUTUAL AID. Then and only then can EVRT deploy their team members across county lines.
This also applies to evacuation sites, such as Ventura County Fair Grounds VS Pierce College.
For Example, If you are in an evacuation zone within east Ventura County, Pierce College which may be closer, will not be open and cannot accept you, until Ventura County is requested for MUTUAL AID.
You can call VCAS should you have questions outside of a DECLARED emergency event.
VCAS: Ventura County Animal Services
Main: 805-388-4341
https://www.vcas.us/
Facebook VCAS
https://www.facebook.com/VCAnimalServices
For updated information regarding an emergency, visit www.vcemergency.com.
BE PREPARED. HAVE A PLAN.
https://www.vcas.us/disaster/
Visit www.vcas.us/EVRT if you are interested in joining our Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team who are deployed by VCAS during declared disasters to assist in the evacuation and care of animals.
The Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team (or EVRT) was established in 1985 by Ventura County Animal Services. This is an on-call emergency volunteer group whose members are residents of Ventura County. This group is activated by VCAS personnel during declared disasters. This team primarily assists in the...
