Emergency Support Services

About Emergency Support Services

When emergencies or disasters force people to leave their homes, Emergency Support Services (ESS) are there to help.

ESS provides short-term assistance to residents who have been displaced by events such as fires, floods, storms, or other emergencies.

The program is delivered locally by trained volunteers under the direction of the District of Sooke. These caring individuals help ensure that everyone in our community has a safe place to go, essential supplies, and emotional support when it’s needed most.

What ESS Provides

ESS can provide essential supports for up to 72 hours following an evacuation or displacement, including:

• Food, clothing, and lodging for individuals and families
• Emotional support and referrals to community and provincial services
• Assistance for pets through partner organizations
• Information and updates about the emergency situation and recovery resources

While ESS meets immediate needs, it also helps connect residents to longer-term recovery supports offered by local, regional, and provincial partners.

Reception Centres

When an emergency occurs, the District may open one or more Reception Centres to support affected residents.

Reception Centres are public assistance locations - different from the District’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), which coordinates the overall emergency response behind the scenes.

At a Reception Centre, trained volunteers will:

• Register evacuees and confirm their safety
• Assess needs for shelter, food, or supplies
• Provide information, reassurance, and next steps

If you are asked to evacuate, local alerts, signage, or emergency responders will direct you to the nearest Reception Centre.

Our Volunteer Team

ESS is powered by people who care. Volunteers come from all walks of life - retirees, students, working professionals, and neighbours - who want to make a difference in times of need.

In Sooke, the ESS team also plays an important educational role, sharing knowledge and resources to help residents prepare before emergencies happen.

Through community events, workshops, and outreach activities, ESS volunteers help build awareness of what to do, where to go, and how we can all contribute to local resilience.

Volunteers are supported with regular training through the District's Emergency Mangement Program. 

By volunteering with ESS, you not only help neighbours during emergencies - you help build a more informed, connected, and prepared community every day.

Interested in getting involved? 

Call 250.642.5422 to connect with the team. 

Emergency Support Services in Sooke reflect the heart of our community - compassionate, connected, and ready to help.

Through both response and education, ESS volunteers strengthen our collective ability to prepare, respond, and recover together.

When we learn, plan, and act as one community, we ensure that no one faces an emergency alone.