State Animal & Agriculture Response Teams are interagency state organizations dedicated to preparing, planning, responding and recovering during animal and agricultural emergencies and disasters in the United States. NC SART was founded in North Carolina after Hurricane Floyd in 1999, during which more than 3 million domestic and farm animals were lost. Many could have been saved by a coordinated emergency response plan.
NC SART is a multiagency partnership, joining government agencies with the private sector around the common goal of supporting animals and the agricultural community during disasters. NC SART facilitates communication and resource sharing across agencies and organizations throughout the state during disasters to support local and state level response efforts.
NC SART operates under the auspices of state and local emergency management utilizing the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS has been recognized by the Department of Homeland Security as the most effective system for managing emergencies. This system has been universally adopted as part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
NC SART is a private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.