Streamlined Volunteer Training, New Funding Better Supports Evacuees

The Province says it is streamlining training that will mean more Emergency Support Services responders will be prepared to provide support to evacuees during emergencies.

“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.”

The Province is rolling out a new one-day training option to enable more people to respond in times of need.

The one-day training condenses the current week-long training model, allowing people to rapidly become trained as an ESS responder during emergencies.

The new one-day model begins in May.

The course will also increase the number of ESS responders across the province who can assist local teams with emergencies happening in other areas of B.C.

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 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 equipment.

Funding will go toward projects throughout B.C., such as hosting a mass-evacuation exercise at Camp Homewood on Quadra Island for the Strathcona Regional District.

That’s aimed at better preparing 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.

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.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.