Helping Animals
through people and community
NCAEP Emergency Response Team
NCAEP ERT
The NCAEP ERT is a volunteer group of equine veterinary professionals joining together to assist in providing veterinary care for sheltering equids. Teams can be deployed through a direct aid request from the local County OES representative or by a mutual aid request with the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services (OES).
JOIN THE TEAM
Interested in volunteering with the NCAEP Emergency Response Team? During a disaster, experienced large animal veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and animal handlers are needed. Please fill out our volunteer survey linked below.
Veterinarian volunteers must be licensed in the state of California
Must have extensive horse handling experience
Training Guidelines
Preparation is key when it comes to emergency response. In order to protect our team members, we ask that our volunteers undergo the necessary training and work to ensure that they will be sworn in as Disaster Service Workers (DSWs) for liability coverage.
ICS100
IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
ICS 100, Introduction to the Incident Command System, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The Emergency Management Institute developed its ICS courses collaboratively with:
National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
United States Fire Administration’s National Fire Programs Branch
Course Objectives:
At the completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Explain the principles and basic structure of the Incident Command System (ICS).
- Describe the NIMS management characteristics that are the foundation of the ICS.
- Describe the ICS functional areas and the roles of the Incident Commander and Command Staff.
- Describe the General Staff roles within ICS.
- Identify how NIMS management characteristics apply to ICS for a variety of roles and discipline areas.
- Primary Audience
- The target audience includes persons involved with emergency planning, and response or recovery efforts.
Prerequisites
None
CEUs:
0.2
Course Length:
Go at your own pace ~ 2 hours
Please note that the IS Program now requires a FEMA SID to be used instead of your SSN. If you do not have a SID, register for one here.
ICS 700
IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
Course Overview
This course provides an overview of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The National Incident Management System defines the comprehensive approach guiding the whole community – all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and the private sector – to work together seamlessly to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the effects of incidents. The course provides learners with a basic understanding of NIMS concepts, principles, and components.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe and identify the key concepts, principles, scope, and applicability underlying NIMS.
- Describe activities and methods for managing resources.
- Describe the NIMS Management Characteristics.
- Identify and describe Incident Command System (ICS) organizational structures.
- Explain Emergency Operations Center (EOC) functions, common models for staff organization, and activation levels.
- Explain the interconnectivity within the NIMS Management and Coordination structures: ICS, EOC, Joint Information System (JIS), and Multiagency Coordination Groups (MAC Groups).
- Identify and describe the characteristics of communications and information systems, effective communication, incident information, and communication standards and formats.
Primary Audience
The course is intended for a wide audience of personnel which includes government executives, private-sector and nongovernmental organization (NGO) leaders, and emergency management practitioners, senior elected and appointed leaders, such as Federal department or agency heads, State Governors, mayors, tribal leaders, and city or county officials and other individuals with emergency management responsibilities including prevention, protection, response, recovery and mitigation.
Prerequisites
none
CEUs:
0.4
Course Length:
Go at your own pace ~ 3.5 hours
Please note that the IS Program now requires a FEMA SID to be used instead of your SSN. If you do not have a SID, register for one here.
Optional: Yolo County Disaster Service Worker Course
During a disaster, the California OES is often overwhelmed, and we do not always know when they will be able to spare a representative to swear in volunteers as official Disaster Service Workers (DSW). This is why it is important that NCAEP Emergency Response Team members undergo the necessary training to be deployed as DSWs under the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services (OES). Injuries sustained while working on DSW orders are covered through the State of California Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Program. The following coursework is mandatory for all Disaster Service Workers in Yolo County (you do NOT have to be a resident of Yolo Co.).
Yolo Co. Disaster Service Worker Course
**Website under construction**
Field disaster response provided by NCAEP Emergency Response Team utilizes the incident command system (ICS), a planning and operational tool to facilitate an effective and coordinated response to a disaster.
How to Request the NCAEP ERT
DIRECT AID REQUEST
If you are a local CART or shelter manager in need of assistance with the medical care of sheltering equids have your local OES representative(s) contact the NCAEP administrative team at info@norcalaep.org or 650-651-3696. We encourage county representatives to complete the annual aid agreement process as early as possible to avoid delays when care is needed.
MUTUAL AID REQUEST
If you are a local CART or shelter manager in need of assistance with the medical care of sheltering equids have your local OES representative(s) contact the Yolo County OES with a Mutual Aid Request for assistance from the NCAEP ERT. Your OES representative will have the necessary contact information for this activation process.
If you are a veterinary professional who wants more information on receiving support in your area, please contact us at 650-651-3696 or info@norcalaep.org.
Volunteer Protocols during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Northern California Association of Equine Practitioners (NCAEP) will continue to deploy to disasters at the request of emergency office officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering social distancing and required PPE, deploying to an incident will offer new challenges. The following protocols will be observed in an effort to limit exposure to and spread of coronavirus.
DO NOT attempt to volunteer if:
- You are not feeling well, have COVID-like symptoms, or are confirmed positive for coronavirus, please do not accept a shift.
- You become unwell between the time that you are scheduled to volunteer and the actual volunteer date, please do not deploy. Contact NCAEP as soon as reasonably possible to provide notification that you will not be able to volunteer.
- You have been exposed to anyone showing symptoms of the virus or confirmed to have the virus.
- You are at an increased risk of becoming unwell from coronavirus, for instance, are immunocompromised, have heart or lung problems, diabetes, or are elderly.
If you do decide that it is safe for you to respond:
- NCAEP coordinators will be asking if you are experiencing any COVID symptoms. If you are not feeling well or have a fever of over 100.4F, you will be asked to go home.
- Please bring and wear a mask. If you do not have a mask, NCAEP will provide a mask for you as long as supplies last.
- Adhere to social distancing (6 feet apart) as much as possible. Only one volunteer may be in the NCAEP trailer at any given time.
- Wash or sanitize your hands frequently when not wearing gloves.
Conditions will not be ideal. Inevitably, there will be issues that will come up that we have not considered. We will discuss these in a calm, rational manner and come up with the best solution, adhering to protocols from the CDC and County of Deployment’s Public Health office.
National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) in conjunction with the American Red Cross is providing guidance and educational slideshows intended to ensure jurisdictions are aware of planning changes necessary to meet the extra burden in cleaning, staffing, and logistics during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.