Emergency Support Services (ESS) volunteers
Emergency Support Services (ESS) is a provincial program for local authorities and Indigenous governments to deliver services to the public in an emergency. They often depend on volunteers to coordinate these services for people forced from their homes because of an emergency.
Read more about the Emergency Support Services program.
What volunteers do
Volunteer responsibilities may include:
- Coordinating the provision of
- Food, clothing, and lodging
- Emotional support
- Pet care
- Transportation
- Family reunification
- Identifying locations for reception centres and group lodging to house and feed people forced from their homes
- Working with local businesses, service organizations and government agencies
- Providing information about the crisis
- Finding and coordinating other volunteers
How to join
ESS teams consist of volunteers (regular and convergent) ready to be deployed to an emergency event when called upon. Teams are managed locally. If you're interested in joining, contact your local authority or local ESS team to learn more.
Training
The ESS program relies on trained members of a community to meet the needs of people in an emergency.
Provincial resources
Provincial resources are composed of experienced and highly trained ESS volunteers who travel at short notice to communities that request assistance.
Volunteer resources
General — for all public safety lifeline volunteers
Volunteer safety and code of conduct
We are committed to the safety of all public safety lifeline volunteers.
Code of conduct
Volunteers have a high level of responsibility and accountability while performing their duties. The code of conduct documents outline the expectations and responsibilities of each registered volunteer, and contain the process for a breach of the Code of Conduct.
Workers compensation coverage
- Policy (PDF, 407KB)
- Procedures (PDF,245KB)
- FAQs (PDF, 328KB)
- WorksafeBC Form 7 - Employer's Report of Injury or Occupational Disease
Liability coverage
- Policy (PDF, 120 KB)
- Procedures (PDF, 227 KB)
- FAQs (PDF, 230 KB)
- Form (PDF, 98 KB)
- Instructions (PDF, 260 KB)
- 5.02 Expense Reimbursement Request Form (PDF)
- 5.02 Expense Reimbursement Request Supplement (PDF)
- 5.04 Volunteer Equipment Repair/Replacement Request Form Instructions (PDF)
- 5.04 Volunteer Equipment Repair/Replacement Request Form (PDF)