FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2025
BuCART SIGNS EASAPP™ MOU WITH DARTCC
DARTCC and Butler County Animal Response Team Unite to Strengthen Disaster Animal Response in Kansas
Waterbury, VT & Augusta, KS – Disaster Animal Response Command Central (DARTCC) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Butler County Animal Response Team (BuCART), formalized through a Mutual Assistance Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on May 22, 2025. This collaboration marks a critical step forward in enhancing the protection and care of companion animals in Butler County during emergencies.
The agreement outlines a framework for mutual cooperation between DARTCC and BuCART, an all-volunteer response team affiliated with the Butler County, Kansas Emergency Management Department. With this MOU, BuCART will gain access to DARTCC’s Emergency Animal Shelter App (EASApp™), a digital platform designed to support emergency animal sheltering efforts through documentation, volunteer coordination, and training.
“This agreement reinforces our commitment to protect animals when disasters strike,” said Keri Korthals, Director of Butler County Emergency Management. “With EASApp™, our volunteers will be better equipped to deliver efficient, well-documented care during shelter operations.”
Through this partnership, BuCART will receive free access to EASApp™ during declared disasters and major training events. The platform includes capabilities for shelter intake, care tracking, and volunteer resource management. While technical support is not included in the free access, optional support agreements will be available starting fall 2025.
Highlights of the Partnership Include:
- Free EASApp™ access for BuCART during emergencies and major training exercises.
- Instructional videos available to all registered teams starting summer 2025, with live training offered on a case-by-case basis.
- Clear data retention policies, including a 90-day window for teams to download deployment data.
- Operational independence, with both organizations maintaining their own structures, policies, and volunteer teams.
“BuCART’s alignment with county emergency management makes this a particularly strategic partnership,” said Deb Shelby, Executive Director of DARTCC. “We’re excited to see our technology used to support their boots-on-the-ground efforts in Kansas.”
This non-binding MOU reflects the shared values and operational flexibility of both volunteer-led organizations. It allows for future collaborative efforts while clearly stating that each party remains responsible for its own personnel, policies, and activities.
For more information, contact:
BuCART Contact:
Keri Korthals
Director, Butler County Emergency Management
2100 N. Ohio, St. B, Augusta, KS 67010
Phone: (316) 733-9796
Email:
DARTCC Contact:
Deb Shelby, Executive Director
P.O. Box 72, Waterbury, VT 05465
Phone: (512) 765-5406
Email:
Visit dartcc.org to learn more and make a tax-deductible donation.
About BuCART: The Butler County Animal Response Team (BuCART) is a volunteer-driven organization affiliated with Butler County Emergency Management in Kansas. Its mission is to coordinate disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts to safeguard the well-being of companion animals during emergencies.
About DARTCC: Disasters are far too common. And volunteer-run emergency pet shelters need support. With DARTCC, data management lives in one place, allowing volunteers to focus on pet care, not paperwork. DARTCC: an easy-to-learn web/mobile operations platform that anyone can use, anywhere disaster strikes.
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