Emergency Social Services

Emergency Social Services (ESS) is a component of the Provincial Emergency Program of the Province of British Columbia. ESS are those services required to preserve the well-being of people affected by an emergency or disaster. Teams are established in local municipalities and assemble together for meetings and contingency planning.

When is ESS provided

Although ESS is designed to provide services to individuals affected by large complex disasters or emergencies, ESS may also be provided during smaller emergencies; for example a single house fire or emergencies affecting 1 to 2 families in a community.

What services are provided by ESS?

ESS provides temporary relief to individuals and families so they can begin to plan their next steps to recover after a disaster.

ESS provides primary services such as:

food;lodging;clothing; and family reunification.

ESS may also provide specialized services such as:

emotional support services; first aid; child minding; pet care; and transportation services

How is ESS provided?

ESS teams assist people affected by disaster, usually at Reception Centres. Reception Centres may be located at the local community centre, recreation centre, church, or school.

ESS teams may also provide services in the following settings:

outreach services to those unable to leave their homes; mass care (lodging and feeding) to evacuees during a major disaster; on-site services to response workers and others.

Regions

British Columbia is Canada's third largest province, and its most mountainous. PEP divides the province into regions for manageability reasons.

• Vancouver Island Region: covers the Island, and much of the coastal region of the corresponding mainland including the following regions:
  • Victoria Capital
  • Cowichan Valley
  • Nanaimo
  • Alberni - Clayoquot
  • Powell River
  • Comox - Strathcona
  • Mount Waddington
• South West region: is the most populated, and includes the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, and it includes
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Squamish - Lillooet (but not including the communities of: Birken, Bralorne, Gold Bridge, Pavilion, Lillooet, Seton Portage, Shalalth)
• Central Region: takes in the Thompson-Okanagan area and parts of the Columbia-Shuswap
  • Thompson - Nicola
  • Okanagan - Similkameen
  • Central Okanagan
  • North Okanagan
  • Squamish - Lillooet (only including the communities of: Birken, Bralorne, Gold Bridge, Pavilion, Lillooet, Seton Portage, Shalalth)
  • Columbia - Shuswap (only the area including the communities of: Anglemont, Falkland, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Canoe, Malakwa, Sorrento, Tappen)
• South East Region: includes the Kootenays and most of the Columbia-Shuswap
  • Kootenay Boundary
  • Central Kootenay
  • East Kootenay
  • Columbia - Shuswap (not including the communities of: Anglemont, Falkland, Salmon Arm District, Sicamous, Canoe, Malakwa, Sorrento, Tappen)
• North East Region: the second largest, comprises the North Coast, including the Charlottes, Skeena, Bulkley–Nechako, and along the Alaska and Yukon borders.
  • Northern Rockies
  • Peace River
  • Fraser - Fort George
  • Cariboo
  • Central Coast
• North West Region: the largest in the province, takes in the Peace River Country, Cariboo and Central Coast
  • Stikine
  • Kitimat - Stikine
  • Bulkley - Nechako
  • Skeena - Queen Charlotte

Volunteers' Powers, Privileges & Recognition

• Volunteers are allowed to use the Disaster Response Route when on duty
• Under Section 27(1b) of the Emergency Program Act, a person commits an offence who interferes with or obstructs any person in the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty conferred or imposed by this Act or the regulations is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or to a fine of not more than $10 000 or to both imprisonment and fine.
• Civil Liability Exemption under Section 18 of the Emergency Program Act
• WorkSafeBC coverage
• The BC government maintains a comprehensive general liability insurance policy with a limit of $2 million covering all provincial volunteers
• Good Samaritan Act applies to all volunteers(unless grossly negligent)
• Trainings from the Provincial, Regional & Municipal Governments
• Special awards night every year

Note

Only persons over the age of 16 may sign up to become a volunteer. Persons aged 16–18 must have parental consent. There is no maximum age limit.

See also

• E-Comm, 9-1-1 call and dispatch centre for Southwestern BC
• HealthLink BC

External links

• [1] Emergency Social Service Program, Provincial Emergency Program.