I’m a commercial ag/livestock operator, and need to access an area that is under an Evacuation Order in order to care for my animals and/or crops. How do I obtain an Ag Pass, and what are the rules?

Information on the County’s Ag Pass program can be found on the ReadyVenturaCounty website.  

I have mobility issues and don’t speak English well. Where can I find resources to assist me with transportation during an evacuation? 

Advance planning is the key to successfully evacuating for Individuals with Access and Functional Needs (AFN) – which includes the elderly and the very young, individuals with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities, individuals with chronic conditions or injuries, those with limited English proficiency, as well as individuals who are low income, homeless, pregnant, and those who may be dependent on public transit to get around. Although 911 dispatchers will attempt to aid you during a disaster event, often more people need transportation than available resources can support.

Being ready to go is your responsibility. The ReadyVenturaCounty website contains information and links to helpful resources that can assist you in making a plan that addresses your specific needs. Take charge to minimize impacts on your safety, your family, your independence and your property!

Why isn’t there a map of pre-designated evacuation zones and routes specific for my neighborhood? 

Every disaster, from wildfires, to floods, to hazardous materials events, is different – presenting logistical challenges that are influenced by many different variables, such as wind direction, fire/plume/flow behavior, road access, and the unique qualities and demographics of the area to be evacuated. This is particularly true for our County – where the optimal zones and routes for a particular event may even change from day to day depending on which way the wind is blowing!

As a result, the all-hazards approach to evacuation planning taken by Ventura County focuses on enhancing technical skills, coordination, and training among our public safety personnel to ensure that zones most applicable to an event can be rapidly established in accordance with industry best practices. Our Emergency Services duty officers are on call 24/7, and regularly train in GIS mapping – providing a flexibility that many other jurisdictions lack when it comes to ensuring that we can quickly notify residents that need to move to safety, while minimizing unnecessary displacement of individuals that are outside the area of concern. 

At the onset of a disaster event, emergency managers will work with the Incident Commander to develop appropriate evacuation zones, determine the best temporary evacuation point to activate that is a safe distance from the incident location, and determine the most appropriate methods to use in notifying the public. Information on evacuated areas and any specific routing or road closure instructions applicable to an event will be conveyed to the public in our messaging and published on the VCemergency website.

What’s the status of the road repairs associated with the February 2024 landslide that impacted Highway 150? Is the road between Santa Paula and Ojai open? When will this project be completed?

The road reopened in both directions as of July 31, 2024. For updates from Caltrans on the repair progress, visit State Route 150 Mudslide Recovery Plan | Caltrans.

Where can I find information about landslide risks and historical event triggers for the community of La Conchita? 

Our comprehensive La Conchita information page contains an overview of the events that have occurred in this area, as well as rainfall amounts that act as indicators for the potentially heightened risk of an event, a running tally of recent rainfall amounts, and links to key information sources for residents and visitors to follow to stay informed. 

What do I need to know as a resident that lives in/near the Mountain Fire burn scar? 

Check out our Post-Fire Debris Flow information page to learn about typical post-fire conditions, rainfall thresholds currently in use, and preparedness actions that public agencies take – as well as what you can do to prepare your property to aid in our community’s recovery following a wildfire.

Where can I find information about debris flows and flooding following a wildfire? Am I at greater risk if I live near a recent burn scar?

Check out our Post-Fire Debris Flow information page to learn about typical post-fire conditions and what to do to prepare your property to aid in our community’s recovery following a wildfire. 

What is a Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP)?

A TEP is a centralized location used as a gathering point for individuals required to leave their residence during a disaster. During an incident, activated TEP locations will be posted on VCemergency.com and included in emergency messaging shared with the public. For more details on what you can expect at a TEP, check out our Evacuation Info page. 

Where do I go to get more information about how VC Alert works? How can I change my contact information and notification preferences in VC Alert?

An overview of the VC Alert program, including links for both signing up and updating your information can be found here. 

Why should I bother to sign up for VC Alerts if my phone already automatically receives Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs)?

VC Alerts and WEAs both result in messages sent to you on your phone or mobile device, but differ substantially in who may receive the message because of how they are sent. Emergency Managers advocate signing up for VC Alerts to ensure you are able to receive both types of messaging!

WEAs work by broadcasting a message from nearby cell towers that gets sent to all mobile users within the desired radius from the event location. This method allows for good notification coverage of open space areas (e.g. hiking trails), public gathering areas (e.g. a Sunday soccer game or the shopping mall) and for extremely fast-moving events. This method often results in messaging of individuals well outside the intended evacuation area though, so is less desirable to use unless locational precision of the messaging is not a high priority. 

In contrast, VC Alerts can be precisely targeted (to even just one house or two!), and tend to be the preferred method of notification for most events when time allows. VC Alerts allow safety personnel to send messages to you about events affecting specific locations you have identified as being most important to you (e.g., home, work, child’s school) – regardless of where you are when the event takes place. Learn more about how the VC Alert notification system works here, and register to sign up or sign in and update your contact preferences today!