District of Sooke Receives $30,000 to Strengthen Emergency Support Services
The District of Sooke has received a $30,000 grant to strengthen its Emergency Support Services (ESS) program and enhance its capacity to assist residents during emergencies.
The funding will support several program improvements, including:
- Volunteer recruitment, retention and training
- Participation in the Network of Emergency Support Services Teams (NESST) Conference, providing training, networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities for ESS volunteers across British Columbia
- New laptops and related equipment to support ESS operations
- Improved signage to help residents identify ESS locations and services
- Generators to help maintain ESS operations during power outages and other disruptions
These investments complement the District’s recent addition of an Emergency Reception Centre Trailer (pictured). The mobile unit provides a central location from which ESS volunteers can assist displaced residents and coordinate services. It can be deployed to pre-established locations throughout the community, helping the ESS team begin providing support quickly and adapt to changing conditions.
The trailer also provides dedicated storage and transportation for essential equipment and supplies, improving readiness and reducing the time required to establish a reception centre.
ESS volunteers provide short-term assistance to people displaced by emergencies such as fires, floods and extreme weather events. Depending on the circumstances, this assistance may include temporary lodging, food, clothing, transportation and connections to other essential services.
ESS volunteers also strengthen community resilience by sharing information about emergency preparedness. Residents can meet the team at local markets and community events this summer to learn how to prepare themselves, their households and their neighbourhoods for emergencies.
“Emergency Support Services volunteers provide compassionate, practical assistance to residents during some of their most difficult moments,” said Mayor Maja Tait. “Together with our new Emergency Reception Centre Trailer, this funding will help us recruit and equip volunteers, strengthen their training and bring essential support closer to residents when an emergency occurs. We are grateful to the Province of British Columbia and the Union of BC Municipalities for investing in our community’s preparedness and resilience.”
The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is funded by the Province of British Columbia and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities.
To learn more about the Emergency Support Services program or volunteer opportunities, visit sooke.ca/ess. To learn more about the District of Sooke Emergency Management program, visit sooke.ca/prepare.
Related - from the Province of British Columbia:
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