ESS Support Organizations

In BC, the ESS Office has agreements with ESS Support Organizations to provide additional resources to communities in major emergencies.

The following ESS Support Organizations include the following agencies (listed in alphabetical order):

• BC Housing

  BC Housing maintains lists of subsidized housing resources available throughout the province. If more people are displaced than can be housed in their local area, BC Housing may refer them elsewhere for shelter. BC Housing is currently exploring alternate forms of temporary shelter that could be moved into a disaster area. It is also maintaining strategically located stockpiles of cots and blankets throughout the province to equip group lodging facilities when required.

• Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation Canada

  Tzu-Chi has taken on the task of mass feeding in times of disaster. The organization will be responsible for tracking the Mobile Feeding Units (MFU) assigned to the province from the National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS). They will also provide support to communities in addressing their planning for mass feeding needs in times of emergency or disasters.

• Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS)

  The CRCS provides community ESS support (family reunification, group lodging, surge capacity), prepositioned goods (cots, blankets, hygiene & clean up kits, teddy bears), call centre – public information, family reunification, client call-back, and Central Registry and Information Bureau (CRIB) management.

• Disaster Psychosocial Services (DPS)

  DPS provides psychosocial support to communities and emergency response workers.

• Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC)

  The Emergency Management Division (EMD) of the JIBC develops and delivers basic and advanced ESS training. On request, ESS instructors may provide or coordinate on-site

  training during a response. The instructors may be used as consultants in operations as required.

• St. John Ambulance (SJA)

  SJA has brigade members who have completed basic first aid courses and are willing to assist in the event of an emergency. SJA will deploy personnel to set up and staff first aid stations, as requested.

• The Salvation Army (TSA)

  TSA trains provincial officers and staff in personal services, as well as ESS, to assist at Reception Centres. Functions provided include Meeting and Greeting incoming evacuees and provision of Emotional Support services. In BC, TSA also provides Mobile Feeding Units. If local resources are insufficient, TSA will deploy additional personnel to an area from around the province.