Streamlined training for volunteers and new funding for Emergency Support Services will better support evacuees in the West Shore
LANGFORD- BC NDP MLAs Ravi Parmar and Mitzi Dean say more Emergency Support Services (ESS) responders in the region will be prepared to provide support to evacuees during emergencies thanks to new streamlined training and increased ESS funding.
“Last summer’s wildfires showed us that people are ready and willing to help their communities and fellow British Columbians,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “Expanding the training program for Emergency Support Service responders will ensure that any potential evacuees in Langford and Sooke will be supported and have their needs met.”
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.
“When British Columbians experience emergencies, Emergency Support Services responders are here for our communities,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. “New equipment and increased training capacity for Emergency Support Services responders will ensure that people have the essential supports and resources they need during emergencies.”
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.
In the region, the following governments are receiving this strain of ESS funding:
- Langford – ESS Truck and Trailer Modifications
- Sooke – ESS ERA modernization
- Colwood – ESS Supplies, Equipment, and Training
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- Approved amount: $30,000.00
- Esquimalt – ESS Regional Training Workshops
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- Approved amount: $17,300.00
- Metchosin – Emergency Support Services Setup and Supply Inventory
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- Approved amount: $30,000.00
- View Royal – ESS Supplies, Equipment, and Training
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- Approved amount: $30,000.00
- Capital RD – CRD Virtual ERA Team Equipment and Supplies
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- Approved amount: $30,000.00
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.