Emergency Support Services
About the program
Emergency Support Services (ESS) provides short-term basic support to individuals who are evacuated during an emergency. This may include temporary accommodation, food, clothing, and other essential services. If you have home or tenant’s insurance, please contact your insurance provider to inquire about coverage for living expenses during an evacuation.
Pre-register for ESS
If you have been evacuated and need ESS, register for Evacuation, Registration and Assistance (ERA) online at ess.gov.bc.ca. We encourage you to get the BC Services Card app, which is a digital ID for your mobile device and may help you receive faster service (e.g. direct deposits) when registering for ERA. If you need support setting up the app before you register for ESS call 1-888-356-2741. Pre-registering helps speed up in-person registration and allows faster access to support.
There are eligibility requirements for accessing ESS and the supports provided are determined by a case to case basis. Services may be available for an extended period and services may include:
- Primary services include temporary lodging, food, clothing and incidentals (e.g. toiletries).
- Specialized services include emotional support, health services (e.g. first aid), pet care and transportation.
Volunteer opportunities
The ESS team relies on volunteers. Through training, mentorship and practice, our dedicated and compassionate ESS volunteers are ready to provide short-term essential needs to those impacted in an emergency. Learn more about the program and sign up to volunteer.
Emergency Support Services Volunteers deliver Provincial Evacuee Living Assistance benefits to provide temporary relief (often up to 72 hours) to residents evacuated from their homes.
ESS volunteers participate in specialized training to activate predesignated facilities for Reception Centre and/or Group Lodgings as safe places for evacuees to receive information and assistance. Vernon ESS Responders work as part of a team between events to prepare, plan, train and practice our ability to respond in a timely, competent manner.
During large events, convergent volunteers may be recruited to augment the ESS Responder workforce and are provided just-in-time training to enable them to join work in progress.
Emergency Support Services Volunteers :
- Help people meet their basic survival needs during an emergency
- Help people re-establish themselves as quickly as possible after an emergency
- Reunite family members separated by an emergency
- Provide people with accurate and up-to-date information about the situation at hand
As part of the recruitment process all ESS Responder applicants are required to complete:
Within the first few months of joining the team all Vernon ESS Responders are required to complete:
Additionally, the following courses are required for all ESS referral work assignments:
- Registration and Referrals (EMRG-1615) **
- Evacuee Registration & Assistance Tool for responders (EMRG-1620)***
Additional specialized training may also be available.
Note the following prerequisites: *EMRG-1600; **EMRG-1610; ***EMRG-1615