Penticton Emergency Support Services (ESS)

Community-based provincial emergency response program designed to assist those affected by an emergency or disaster, whether that be a single house fire or a major disaster involving mass evacuations, such as the interface wildfires or flooding of 2017 and 2018.

In British Columbia, local authorities must coordinate the provision of food, clothing, shelter, transportation and medical services to victims of emergencies and disasters, whether that provision is made from within or outside the local authority.

The goal of ESS is to help people begin to re-establish themselves as quickly as possible after a disaster. 

ESS is generally available for a maximum of 72 hours. During these first 72 hours evacuees should immediately plan their next steps by contacting their insurance agents, families and friends or accessing other possible resources.  Emergency Management BC (EMBC) may extend ESS under exceptional circumstances.

Primary services provided by ESS are:

• Temporary lodging (these are determined on a case-by-case basis)
• Food
• Clothing and incidentals (such as toiletries)

Specialized services that may be coordinated on a case-by-case basis:

• Emotional support
• First aid and other health services
• Pet care
• Transportation

Reception Centre

A reception centre is a safe place where people can go to receive in-person services that vary depending on the type of emergency. The current reception centre is set up at Princess Margaret Secondary School (120 Green Avenue, Penticton).

In many cases, homeowners or tenant insurance held by the evacuees will provide greater support than what is available through this program. If you are evacuated please consult with your insurance provider to determine what may be available to you.

There are specific condition requirements to be eligible for these supports. For example, if you are self-sufficient (such as having appropriate insurance or the means to support yourself for those first 72 hours), you would not be eligible for ESS. 

Emergency Support Services is the heart of emergency responses. This is a very dedicated group of volunteers that are committed to supporting neighbours and community members during emergenices. Some of the benefits of volunteering with the Penticton ESS team include:

• Free training from the Justice Institute of BC
• Free training from the City of Penticton
• Free t-shirts
• Beverages and food during training and during responses
• Flexible schedule
• Supportive team
• Opportunity to contribute to a safe and healthy community
• Reward of supporting evacuees during an emergency

In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the Penticton ESS team was dedicated to supporting evacuees impacted by disasters. To provide a snapshot, these are some of the events the team has supported over the last few years (volunteers have flexibility to take a shift(s) if they are available. During the 2020 Christie Mountain wildfire, 20 different wildfires and floods in 2021, and over 660 evacuees from January to August 2022 from:

• 7 house fires with a combined total of 55 evacuees
• Two hotel/motel fires with a combined total of 125 evacuees,
• Keremeos Creek Wildfire with 463 evacuees, and
• May and July rain events with a combined 21 evacuees.

There are four major roles that Penticton ESS typically recruits for:

• Greeter at the Reception Centre - this is the first individual that greets evacuees when evacuees enter the Reception Centre. They help explain the process to evacuees and help them find the registration area in the Reception Centre.

• Registration and Referral - they help evacuees complete their ESS registration and provide referrals to various supports.

• Documentation Room - they help organise, file, and, using spreadsheets, provider aggregate information about evacuees being supported. 

• Group lodging - provide temporary accommodations in a group facility (e.g., gymnasium floor) to evacuees that have no other accommodation option.

For a detailed description of the ESS volunteer role, please click here.

We have made the process as easy as possible for you. There are just a few steps:

1. Submit your application during an open call. 
2. We will contact you to arrange an interview and police checks.
3. If there is mutual agreement that you want to join the team and there is a role for you on the team, you will be offered a place on the team.
4. You will need to complete a police check (paid by ESS) and sign the Code of Conduct.
5. You will then be provided with information about training courses to help you get the skills and tools to successfully join the team.

Please contact the Penticton ESS team if you have any additional questions, or wish to find out more by emailing ess@penticton.ca or call 250.328.8749.