What is Emergency Social Services (ESS)?
Emergency Social Services (ESS aka Kent - Harrison Community Disaster Assistance Program) provides short-term services (generally up to 72 hours) to preserve the emotional and physical well being of evacuees and response workers in emergency situations. This assistance includes food, lodging, clothing, emotional support and family reunification.
Who are ESS Volunteers?
The District of Kent and Village of Harrison Hot Springs residents who have a desire/passion to help plan and assist to provide for the well being of community members, who have been evacuated from their homes in the event of disaster. Volunteers are required to:
- Be in good health
- Be at least 18 years of age, unless parental consent and ESS Director authorization
- Submit an ESS Volunteer Application Form
- Be interviewed by the Volunteer ESS Director and attend an Orientation to ESS
- Be prepared to complete a Consent for Criminal Record Search
- Submit a Emergency Management BC Volunteer Registration Form + photo ID
- Commit approx 4- 8 hours per month for required meetings, working groups, free training courses and exercises. More hours are required for on-call duties.
What do ESS Volunteers do?
- Provide paper work for arrangements of temporary services to the evacuees, through pre-arranged community suppliers such as restaurants, grocery store, hotels, clothing store, etc.
- Provide for pre-arranged facilities to be adapted into a Reception Centre for a safe place, where multiple evacuees can gather to receive information and assistance
- Provide for pre-arranged facilities to be converted into Group Lodging, in the event the community needs to offer lodging to a large number of evacuees
- Provide Emergency Preparedness education to the public and community organizations
How can I apply?
Fill in the application form and drop it off at:
Agassiz Harrison Community Services, Attention: ESS Director
#5 - 7086 Cheam Ave , P.O. Box 564, Agassiz, BC
OR
send it by fax to 604-796-2517
Links:
Emergency Social Services Government Office, www.ess.bc.ca
Emergency Social Services Association, www.essa.ca
Provincial Emergency Program of B.C., www.pep.bc.ca
Justice Institute of B.C., www.jibc.bc.ca
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