Streamlined training for volunteers and new funding for Emergency Support Services will better support evacuees in Abbotsford, Mission, Leq’a:mel First Nation

MISSION- BC NDP MLAs Pam Alexis and Bob D’Eith say more Emergency Support Services (ESS) responders will be prepared to provide support to evacuees during emergencies thanks to new streamlined training and increased ESS funding.

“When natural disasters force people to leave their homes at a moment’s notice, there need to be supports in place to help them as soon as possible,” said Pam Alexis, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission. “This new training program will ensure that people affected by evacuation orders get access to shelter, food, clothes, and transportation when they need it the most.”

The B.C. government is launching a one-day training model for ESS responders in response to feedback from communities and input from the Premier’s Expert Task Force on Emergencies starting May 4. The new training condenses the current week-long training model, allowing people to rapidly become trained as an ESS responder during emergencies, which will make the training more accessible for many people who want to be volunteers. The course will prepare new ESS responders to provide trauma-informed and culturally safe support both in-person or by phone, which will help provide more ESS responders across B.C. in places that might not have a large volunteer capacity.

“Evacuation orders can have a big impact, and as natural disasters like flooding become more frequent and severe, we need to make sure that the right services are in place for people,” said Bob D’Eith, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission. “We are taking steps to train more emergency response volunteers faster, so that people impacted by these events get the help they need right away.”

The government is also supporting almost 100 local ESS projects with more than $3.27 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). Funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide ESS, as well as support the modernization of their ESS program to include more digital and remote support options.

The following First Nations and local governments are receiving this strain of ESS funding:

• City of Abbotsford- ESS Professional Development Modernization
• Fraser Valley Regional District- ESS Grant 2024 endorsement request
• Leq’a:mel First Nation- Emergency-support services equipment/staff
• City of Mission- ESS team training and grant recognition and ESS trailer supply restock

The CEPF helps communities to better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate-related emergencies by funding local projects and initiatives in several categories. These include disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, public notification and evacuation-route planning, and emergency operations centre equipment and training. The Province has invested $369 million into the CEPF since its establishment in 2017. Approximately $176 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments through the CEPF for more than 1,800 projects. This includes over $13.5 million to support local ESS teams.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024EMCR0016-000355