Why Choose Santa Barbara Coach Bus Service for Emergency Transportation?
Santa Barbara Coach Bus Service has been providing reliable bus rentals in Santa Barbara and across California for years. We’ve worked with local government agencies, school districts, hospitals, universities, and private companies to develop custom emergency response plans that meet their specific needs. Our team understands the unique challenges of evacuating people during wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters—and we know how to get it done quickly and safely.
When you book with us, you’ll have access to one of the largest fleets in the state, including charter buses, minibuses, sprinter vans, school buses, and ADA-accessible vehicles. We can send vehicles anywhere in Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, San Luis Obispo County, or Los Angeles County at a moment’s notice. Whether you need to move 10 people or 1,000+, we have the capacity and flexibility to make it happen.
Our dispatchers are available 24/7/365 to answer your call and dispatch a vehicle immediately. We pride ourselves on our fast response times and our ability to adapt to changing circumstances on the ground. No matter what happens, we’ll be there to help you keep your people safe.
Evacuation Transportation for Wildfires, Floods, and Natural Disasters
Santa Barbara County is no stranger to natural disasters. From the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslides to flash floods and earthquake threats, our region faces constant risk. When evacuation orders are issued, you need a way to move large groups of people out of harm’s way—fast. That’s where we come in.
We can deploy a fleet of buses to evacuation zones anywhere in the county, including high-risk areas like Mission Canyon, Riviera, Eucalyptus Hill, Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, Goleta, Isla Vista, and Santa Ynez Valley. Our vehicles can transport residents to designated shelters, such as Earl Warren Showgrounds, UCSB Recreation Center, Dos Pueblos High School, or locations outside the danger zone.
If roads are closed or conditions change, we’ll work with emergency managers to find alternate routes and pickup points. We can also provide standby shuttles for first responders, utility crews, or volunteers working in affected areas. After the immediate threat has passed, we’ll assist with re-entry shuttles to help people return home safely.
Contingency Plans for Public Transit Disruptions
When local transit agencies like MTD Santa Barbara, VCTC Intercity, or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner experience service interruptions due to emergencies, we can provide immediate backup transportation. Our charter buses and minibuses can be deployed to replace suspended routes, shuttle passengers between stations, or cover gaps in service until normal operations resume.
We’ve worked with public agencies across the state to develop contingency plans for bus bridges, rail replacement, and last-mile connections during crises. Whether it’s a wildfire blocking Highway 101, a landslide closing the Coast Starlight line, or a power outage shutting down city buses, we’ll keep people moving safely and efficiently.
Medical & Hospital Evacuation Transportation
Hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities must have a plan to evacuate patients who cannot self-transport. We provide non-emergency medical transportation for healthcare providers across Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Solvang, and Buellton. Our ADA-compliant buses can accommodate wheelchairs, stretchers, and mobility devices, ensuring all patients are moved safely and comfortably.
We’ve assisted with hospital evacuations during wildfires, power outages, and hazardous material incidents. Our team will work closely with your emergency management staff to coordinate pickup locations, loading procedures, and drop-off points at receiving facilities or shelters. Onboard amenities like climate control, restrooms, and reclining seats help keep patients comfortable during transit.
For long-distance transfers, we can provide direct transportation to hospitals outside the affected area, including facilities in Ventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, or Los Angeles. If you need to evacuate multiple buildings or campuses simultaneously, we can dispatch enough vehicles to handle the entire operation in one coordinated effort.
School Evacuation Buses
We provide emergency evacuation transportation for K-12 schools, colleges, and universities across Santa Barbara County. If your campus needs to evacuate students and staff due to fire, earthquake, or lockdown, we can dispatch buses immediately to move everyone to a safe location. Our team will coordinate with school administrators to establish pickup points, loading procedures, and reunification sites for parents.
We’ve worked with Santa Barbara Unified School District, Goleta Union School District, Carpinteria Unified School District, and local private schools to develop customized evacuation plans. For higher education, we can support UCSB, SBCC, Westmont College, and Fielding Graduate University with mass transit options during emergencies.
All buses are driven by experienced professionals who prioritize safety and follow strict protocols for student accountability. Vehicles can be staged on standby during high-risk events or pre-positioned based on weather forecasts and threat assessments.
Flexible Contracts & Rapid Response Times
In an emergency, every second counts. That’s why we offer flexible contracts and rapid response times to get you the transportation you need, when you need it. You can book a bus for a few hours, a few days, or as long as the situation requires. We offer both short-term and long-term rental options to fit your budget and timeline.
Our average dispatch time is under two hours for most locations in Santa Barbara County, including downtown Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Montecito, Isla Vista, and Santa Maria. If you need a bus even faster, let us know—we’ll do everything we can to expedite your request. In some cases, we can have a vehicle on site in less than an hour.
We also offer standby contracts for organizations that want to have a dedicated bus ready to go at all times. This is a popular option for hospitals, assisted living facilities, and large employers who need to be prepared for any contingency. With a standby contract, you’ll have priority access to our fleet and the peace of mind that comes with it.