Streamlined volunteer training, new funding better supports evacuees

Press Release

March 15, 2024

VICTORIA – More Emergency Support Services (ESS) responders will be prepared to provide support to evacuees during emergencies thanks to new streamlined training.

“Last summer, we heard from people who wanted to help evacuees but faced barriers in getting trained to do so,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “We’re acting on lessons learned by rolling out a new one-day training option to enable more people to respond in times of need, helping to ensure that evacuees are supported in an effective and timely manner.”

ESS is a provincially funded program administered by local governments and First Nations, which provides temporary support, including essentials such as accommodation, food, clothing and transportation, for people and families that are unable to meet their needs when they are evacuated. During an emergency event, local governments and First Nations will share information about how to access ESS, such as at a reception centre.

The Province is launching a one-day training model for ESS responders in response to feedback from communities and input from the Premier’s expert task force on emergencies. The one-day training administered by the Justice Institute of B.C. condenses the current week-long training model, allowing people to rapidly become trained as an ESS responder during emergencies.

“Streamlining the training program for Emergency Support Services responders is an opportunity to provide the necessary training for new ESS responders, while reducing the time commitment that volunteers need to make to be prepared to help people who are evacuated,” said Tanya Spooner, manager of emergency programs, City of Prince George. “The ability to bring in new volunteers and have them trained within a single day will vastly improve the ability to accept drop-in volunteers during an evacuation.”

The new one-day model will go live on May 4, 2024. The course will prepare new ESS responders to provide support in-person and by phone so that evacuees can receive the supports they need. It will also increase ESS responders across the province who can assist local ESS teams with emergencies happening in other areas of B.C. The new course also trains responders how to conduct a trauma-informed needs assessment and offer supports in a culturally safe manner.

The Province is also supporting almost 100 local ESS projects with approximately $3.3 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). Funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide ESS through volunteer recruitment, retention and training, and the purchase of ESS equipment.

The funds will also support the modernization of local ESS programs to move toward digital registration and offer remote support. This will help communities move to online ESS registration and allow direct payment to evacuees. Additionally, funding will focus on promoting knowledge sharing, enhancing mutual aid between communities and allowing applicants to act as host communities for evacuees.

Funding will go toward projects throughout B.C., such as:

• Hosting a series of local training sessions for volunteers, purchasing laptops, printers and ESS branded clothing for responders, sending 10 volunteers to the annual Network of Emergency Support Services Teams (NESST) conference and hosting two annual volunteer-recognition events in Kamloops.
• Hosting a mass-evacuation exercise at Camp Homewood on Quadra Island for the Strathcona Regional District to better prepare the Campbell River and Quadra Island area to serve as a host community for evacuees, purchasing group-lodging supplies such as generators, cots, space heaters and dehydrated-food rations, regular training for ESS responders and volunteer-recognition dinners for each ESS team in the region.
• Purchasing a trailer to create a mobile ESS reception centre with emergency supplies, internet, computers and PPE to support evacuees in the community of Iskut First Nation, which is five hours from the nearest community.
• Purchasing headsets for a remote call centre to support evacuees during large-scale evacuation in other communities, a trailer for new supplies for group lodging and the plan to host an ESS bootcamp for the village of Granisle by the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako.
• Purchasing ionizing air purifiers to clean air at evacuation sites and laptops, support two ESS responders to attend the NESST Conference, and fund more training for ESS responders in the Fraser Valley Regional District.

The CEPF helps communities better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate-related emergencies by funding local projects and initiatives in several categories. These include disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation, public notification and evacuation-route planning, and emergency-operations centre equipment and training.

The Province has invested $369 million into the CEPF since its establishment in 2017. Approximately $176 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments through the CEPF for more than 1,800 projects. This includes more than $13.5 million to support local ESS teams.

Quotes:

Kyleen Toyne, emergency support services director, Williams Lake First Nation –

“This funding will enable Williams Lake First Nation to deliver culturally centred support during small or large-scale emergency events, ranging from residential-structure fires to full-scale community evacuations, while creating more collaboration and training opportunities with neighbouring municipalities and Indigenous communities.”

Cathy Semchuk, emergency program co-ordinator, Columbia Shuswap Regional District –

“Emergency events are happening more often and with greater intensity. For ESS teams to successfully respond to these larger and longer events, we need knowledgeable and confident volunteers. This new streamlined training provides local governments and First Nations with another tool to help create and strengthen resilient responders.”

Shaun Koopman, emergency services manager, Strathcona Regional District –

“We were inspired by how the Fraser Valley Regional District and Camp Hope came to the aid of the Lytton community following their tragic displacement. The east coast of Vancouver Island may face a similar tragedy if a distant tsunami causes a mass displacement of west coast villages, hamlets and First Nation communities. The support through this grant allows us to bring together key partners in Camp Bob, Camp Homewood and facilitators to help us better understand the Camp Hope community-care model.”

Natasha Hartson, community and emergency supports supervisor, City of Kamloops –

“The provincial funding supported the development of localized made-in-Kamloops training for ESS responders. This training will help both evacuees and responders by giving volunteers the tools they need to best support evacuees during an emergency.”

Craig Smith, fire chief, Vanderhoof Fire Rescue –

“Through the generous support of EMCR, we will be bringing training to our community to better prepare our team of volunteers to respond to evacuations as a result of emergencies and disasters. This will result in timely training available to all volunteers, rather than asking volunteers to travel to another community to receive training. Local training will also benefit the team to prepare for geographically relevant emergencies.”

Quick Facts:

• The new course will be available in three formats to provide better accessibility: instructor-led, in-person; instructor-led, online; and self-paced, online.
• The existing longer-form course and its recommended prerequisites will still be available online to those interested.
• In summer 2023, approximately 24,300 households were placed under evacuation order and more than 7,000 households requested and received support from Emergency Support Services.
• The Province’s work to modernize ESS resulted in evacuees receiving more than $2 million in support for things, such as food and incidentals, by Interac e-Transfer during mass evacuations due to the wildfires in August 2023.
• The Premier’s expert task force on emergencies was established in October 2023 to provide strategic advice and action-oriented recommendations about how the Province can better support people on the front lines of emergencies, enhance support delivery for evacuees and apply lessons the Province has learned in preparation for the next emergency.

Learn More:

For more information about Emergency Support Services, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/local-emergency-programs/ess

To register for ESS when directed, visit: https://ess.gov.bc.ca/

For more information about the Premier’s expert task force on emergencies, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/emergency-management/emergency-activation/em-taskforce

For more information about Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/funding-programs/local-government-program-services/community-emergency-preparedness-fund

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
Media Relations
250 880-6430

BACKGROUNDER

The CEPF is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and funds projects that support First Nations and local governments to better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from hazards in a changing climate.

First Nations and local governments throughout British Columbia will receive approximately $3.3 million in provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Funds as follows:

100 Mile House – Network of Emergency Support Services Teams (NESST) Training
Approved amount: $14,574.80

Abbotsford – ESS Professional Development and Modernization
Approved amount: $14,769

Adams Lake Indian Band – ESS Evac. Trailer – Supplies Part 2
Approved amount: $30,000

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District – Regional: Building Capacity and Strengthening Resilience in Emergency Support Services
Regional partners: Port Alberni
Approved amount: $60,000

Anspayaxw Band (Kispiox) – Emergency services
Approved amount: $30,000

Bowen Island – 2024 ESS training and laptop project
Approved amount: $30,000

Bulkley-Nechako Regional District – Regional: Group lodging, remote support and NESST
Regional Partners: Granisle and Houston
Approved amount: $89,984

Burnaby – Burnaby Mountain ESS – equipment and training
Approved amount: $29,951.97

Capital Regional District – Virtual evacuee registration and assistance (ERA) team – equipment and supplies
Approved amount: $30,000

Castlegar – ESS 2024 project (Polaris)
Approved amount: $18,564.50

Central Coast Regional District – ESS supplies and training
Approved amount: $30,000

Chawathil First Nation – Emergency services training, technology and equipment
Approved amount: $29,034.25

Columbia Shuswap Regional District – 2024 NESST conference attendance, training project and vest purchase
Approved amount: $24,215

Colwood – ESS supplies, equipment and training
Approved amount: $30,000

Coquitlam – ESS equipment and training project
Approved amount: $30,000

Cowichan Tribes – Strengthening Cowichan Tribes’ ESS program
Approved amount: $30,000

Ditidaht First Nation – ESS Evacuation trailer – supplies part 2
Approved amount: $29,928.42

Dzawada’enuxw First Nation – ESS program capacity development
Approved amount: $30,000

Elkford – ESS enhancements
Approved amount: $29,888.75

Esquimalt – ESS regional training workshops
Approved amount: $17,300

Fort St. John – ERA IT set-up requirements and development of primary ESS location
Approved amount: $30,000

Fraser Valley Regional District – ESS grant 2024 endorsement request
Approved amount: $30,000

Fraser-Fort George Regional District – 2024 ESS ERA integration
Approved amount: $30,000

Harrison Hot Springs – ESS
Approved amount: $9,471.59

Heiltsuk First Nation – Reinvigorating emergency needs – communications, supply and equipment
Approved amount: $30,000

Hope – ESS team
Approved amount: $30,000

Hudson’s Hope – Emergency-support services training
Approved amount: $3,683.62

Iskut First Nation – Mobile emergency-support services trailer
Approved amount: $30,000

Kamloops – 2024 ESS training, supplies and equipment
Approved amount: $30,000

Kent – 2024 ESS upgrades
Approved amount: $25,655.50

Kitimat – ESS reception and group-lodging supports
Approved amount: $14,426.37

Kitimat-Stikine Regional District – Skeena valley technology upgrade and team advancement
Approved amount: $28,317.02

Kitsumkalum Band – Emergency-response volunteers
Approved amount: $30,000

Kwakiutl Band Council – ESS evacuation support trailer/modernization
Approved amount: $30,000

Kwikwetlem First Nation – Building emergency-response capacity for members and responders
Approved amount: $30,000

Lake Babine Nation – Emergency-support services development project
Approved amount: $29,855.82

Langford – ESS truck and trailer modifications
Approved amount: $26,850

Leq’a:mel First Nation – Emergency-support services equipment/staff
Approved amount: $24,328.11

Lytton – ESS Evacuation trailer – supplies part 2
Approved amount: $29,978.64

Lytton First Nation – ESS equipment acquisition
Approved amount: $29,937.99

Mackenzie – Emergency-support services 2024
Approved amount: $29,489.51

Merritt – ESS capacity-building project 2024
Approved amount: $30,000

Metchosin – Emergency-support services set-up and supply inventory
Approved amount: $30,000

Mission – ESS team training and grant recognition and ESS trailer supply restock
Approved amount: $11,382.55

Nak’azdli Whut’en – Regional: Nak’azdli Whut’en and the District of Fort St. James ESS
Regional partners: Fort St. James
Approved amount: $59,333.81

New Hazelton – 2024 ESS
Approved amount: $8,060.72

North Okanagan Regional District – ESS equipment and training grant
Approved amount: $23,800

District of North Vancouver – Regional: Modernizing ESS on the North Shore under Emergency and Disaster Management Act
Regional partners: North Vancouver City, Squamish Nation and West Vancouver
Approved amount: $120,000

Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District – Regional: ESS preparedness and capacity
Regional Partners: Keremeos, Osoyoos, Princeton, Summerland
Approved amount: $150,000

Oliver – Continued capacity building
Approved amount: $30,000

Penticton – ESS 2024
Approved amount: $27,000

Pitt Meadows – ESS team development
Approved amount: $19,579.87

Port Coquitlam – ESS supplies and training enhancement
Approved amount: $26,625

Port Moody – Training and exercise
Approved amount: $15,000

Prince George – NESST 11th annual conference and Phase 5 resources to support ESS modernization
Approved amount: $30,000

Prince Rupert – ESS capacity and resourcing support
Approved amount: $4,792

Qualicum Beach – Regional: ESS modernization and augmenting emergency-management oceanside group lodging
Regional partners: Parksville
Approved amount: $60,000

Quesnel – Network of Emergency Support Services Conference
Approved amount: $5,589

Saanich – ESS modernization project 2024
Approved amount: $30,000

Saulteau First Nations – ESS and equipment
Approved amount: $28,650

Seabird Island Band – ESS equipment
Approved amount: $28,963.34

Sékw’elw’as First Nation – Emergency-services equipment and modernization
Approved amount: $29,925

Shxw’ōwhámel First Nation – Resilient Response initiative
Approved amount: $18,309.88

Sidney – Peninsula Emergency-measures organization ESS
Approved amount: $29,689.17

Simpcw First Nation – ESS food-prep trailer and portable lighting and power
Approved amount: $30,000

Smithers – Regional: Bulkley ESS mobile operations upgrade
Regional partners: Telkwa
Approved amount: $60,000

Snaw-Naw-As First Nation – ESS program development
Approved amount: $29,934.27

Snuneymuxw First Nation – Emergency-support services project
Approved amount: $30,000

Sooke – ESS ERA modernization
Approved amount: $20,750

Soowahlie First Nation – ESS program capacity development
Approved amount: $30,000

Splatsin First Nation – ESS reconstruction
Approved amount: $3,875

Spuzzum First Nation – Capacity development for evacuation & hosting
Approved amount: $30,000

Squamish – Mobile ESS delivery project
Approved amount: $29,624.84

Sqwá First Nation – ESS supplies and community engagement
Approved amount: $30,000

Stewart – Mobile emergency generator
Approved amount: $30,000

Strathcona Regional District – Regional: North Vancouver Island – Providing quality mass care through regional collaboration
Regional partners: Campbell River, Ehattesaht First Nation, Gold River, Homalco First Nation, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, Mount Waddington Regional District, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations, Nuchatlaht First Nation, Port Alice, Port McNeill, Sayward, Tahsis and Zeballos
Approved amount: $420,000

Stz’uminus First Nation – Emergency trailer #2
Approved amount: $18,472.46

Sunshine Coast Regional District – Sunshine Coast Emergency Program ESS program improvement
Approved amount: $30,000

Surrey – ESS equipment and training
Approved amount: $25,000

T’it’q’et First Nation – Emergency-support services volunteer recognition and modernization supply project
Approved amount: $30,000

Taku River Tlingit First Nation – ESS program development
Approved amount: $30,000

Taylor – Emergency-support services volunteer recruitment and retention
Approved amount: $6,558

Tsal’alh – Emergency-support services development project
Approved amount: $29,917.40

Tseshaht First Nation – ESS equipment and training
Approved amount: $29,985.10

Tsleil-Waututh Nation – ESS program supplies and training
Approved amount: $15,561.25

Valemount – ESS training, supplies and capacity building
Approved amount: $10,195

Vanderhoof – ESS equipment, training and recognition project
Approved amount: $30,000

Vernon – Emergency-support services preparedness
Approved amount: $30,000

Victoria – ESS modernization
Approved amount: $29,874.29

View Royal – ESS supplies, equipment and training
Approved amount: $30,000

We Wai Kai Nation – ESS Evacuation trailer – supplies part 2
Approved amount: $30,000

Whistler – ESS technology tools & group-lodging supplies
Approved amount: $24,940

Williams Lake – 2024 emergency-support service training – capacity building
Approved amount: $9,117

Williams Lake First Nation – Emergency-support services equipment grant
Approved amount: $29,541.31

Xaxli’p First Nation – ESS start up
Approved amount: $30,000

Xwisten – Emergency-support service development
Approved amount: $29,913.92

Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government – Emergency-support services development project
Approved amount: $30,000

Contact:Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
Media Relations
250 880-6430

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