Emergency Support Services provide short-term assistance to British Columbians in need of emergency supports who are forced to leave their homes because of fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergencies. This assistance includes food, accommodation, clothing, incidentals, and resources for information and guidance.
There are three levels of incident classifications where a resident may require the use of Emergency Support Services:
- Level 1: Small-scale incidents (e.g., individual house fires)
- Level 2: Larger incidents involving multiple structures or communities (e.g., apartment fires)
- Level 3: Full-scale activations or community-wide evacuations
The City works in partnership with the Province of BC to ensure that residents are aware of tools and resources available to them during an emergency. Residents are encouraged to create a profile on ESS.Gov.bc.ca and with the BC Services Card app by visiting ID.Gov.BC.ca to verify their identity before an emergency occurs. Creating a profile can save time and reduce stress during an actual emergency. Once residents create a profile, they can log into the online self-service tool receive instruction on the types of support available and how they can be assessed.
Additionally, an online self-service registration pathway for Emergency Support Services may be activated in large-scale evacuations. Evacuees would access this pathway in the Evacuee Registration and Assistance tool and it would give them the ability to complete their own registration for Emergency Support Services, respond to an automated needs assessment and receive supports by e-transfer. The Province will work with Kamloops to assess the need to activate this pathway when necessary, allowing for self-registration and allowing reception centres to focus and support those evacuees who prefer or need in-person support.
Evacuee Online Registration
Evacuees are registered through an online registration system, created by Emergency Management and Climate Readiness BC.
The online platform includes evacuee registration with a self-serve registration option that may be available during activations to streamline processes for evacuated individuals to access services more easily and efficiently. Registering online shortens wait times and directs evacuees to information pertaining to next steps and helpful advice. This also saves valuable volunteer hours during emergency.
The BC Services Card app plays a pivotal role in verifying the identity of residents and allowing them to choose how they receive evacuee support. The app enables access to e-transfer deposits, enhancing choice during emergencies so that evacuees can decide how to best meet their own needs.
Registration for the BC Services Card app can take up to two weeks for account verification, so pre-planning is vital. Those without a verified account will still receive support, but it will be in the form of specific paper vouchers for hotels, restaurants, and stores, which may limit their choice during an emergency.
How to Create a Profile in Case of Emergency
Reception Centres
Reception centres are set up to provide for essential needs of people affected by a disaster. The reception centre is a site (staffed by Emergency Support Services volunteers) where evacuees may be received during a disaster. The facility used could be a recreation centre, community centre, church hall, or school—it depends on what is available in the community or what is needed.
Reception centres are also used as an information centre, a staging site for volunteer disaster relief workers, a site where insurance adjusters can operate, etc.
The current dedicated Reception Centre within Kamloops is located at McArthur Island Sport and Events Centre located at 1655 Island Parkway. Emergency Support Services will only be provided if your primary residence is one of the properties under evacuation order assigned to this location. Evacuees should confirm their assigned Reception Centre prior to arrival.
BC Evacuee Helpline
The BC Evacuee Helpline offers basic information to the public year-round. Service BC can help evacuees by phone at 1-800-387-4258 to access the emergency supports they need during large-scale evacuations and offer general information to the public year-round including assistance with BC Services Card App authentication. The evacuee helpline has been established by the Ministry of Citizens’ Services in partnership with Emergency Management and Climate Readiness BC.
Volunteer with Emergency Support Services
Emergency Support Services is based on volunteerism and is dependent on the willingness of individuals in the community to help plan for the well-being of their neighbours and fellow citizens in the event of a disaster. Learn more about volunteering with Emergency Support Services.
