In the event of a major earthquake, the Park Board through its volunteer-based Emergency Social Services Program will coordinate food, shelter, first aid and other services to victims.
Vancouver Emergency Social Services are provided on a short-term basis to preserve the emotional and physical well being of those affected by an emergency. These temporary services may include emergency food, clothing, lodging, transportation and counselling. Trained volunteers and staff would assess the needs of the individuals and provide referrals to local businesses and organizations for the service.
Vancouver would use its 23 community centres, and the land around them, to provide emergency shelter, clothing, food and basic medical care to disaster victims. The City currently has about 800 trained volunteers who would help staff the shelters. (Anyone interested in volunteering for the Emergency Social Services (ESS) program, which provides community sheltering services during a disaster, should contact Bryan Larrabbe, Park Board ESS Coordinator at 257-8620.)
Starting in 2000 the City is enhancing the capability to respond to emergencies by implementing improvements in the sheltering capability of its community centres. During a ten year programme the City will place special storage containers filled with emergency equipment and shelter supplies at designated community centre shelters. These will provide the core shelter supplies and equipment ready on site for immediate use during an emergency.
Locations & Contacts
ESS Headquarters is part of the Logistics Section of the City Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) located at the E-Comm Building, 3301 East Pender Street. There are 21 workstations using the WebEOC emergency management software program to help deploy resources, gather information about the disaster, provide updates in the status of the reception centres and shelters and allow communication with other members of the EOC. Each workstation can monitor radio reports, get access to the internet, and full telephone and fax capability. There is also an emergency satellite phone in the room, and access to amateur radio communications. The room includes meeting space for planning sessions and debriefing.
There are 10 community based ESS teams in the City of Vancouver. To get direct information on activities and events for each team, please click the link of your neighborhood ESS below.
| Kerrisdale | Riley Park | Collingwood | Douglas Park | Dunbar |
| Hastings | Kitsilano | Strathcona | Sunset | West End |
ESS Container Project
ESS has pre-positioned 20X9X9 Foot containers containing basic supplies to support the evacuation of 150 people at various Community Centres and Vancouver Schools. The City does not state how many containers there are.
The containers are outfitted with basic supplies including; 150 cots and blanket, a propane cooker, large pots, soup stock, drink crystals, first aid supplies, cups, bowls, spoon and outdoor admin post tent.
"If there is any money at the end of this five year project, we will consider purchasing water and other personal preparedness supplies." ref:http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/ess/contain.htm
There is no propane or water in these containers! They are supposed to be delivered by city staff from a City works yard?
Keys to the containers are held by the Community Centre Office, ESS co-ordinator, Vancouver Police and Fire Department.
There are 250 units in my highrise building. Lets say the average unit has 3 occupants (750 people), if my building was to be evacuated; the needs of people from one downtown condo would exceed all the ESS containers alloted to the Downtown Vancouver Community Centres.
The ESS site says that if they are over run with evacuees from a major disaster, that they have access to a B.C. Housing warehouse in Burnaby.
We reccomend you plan today which family, friends or neighbors you can stay with if you have to evacuate your home.
Emergency Social Services Volunteers
Emergency Social Services Vancouver is seeking volunteers. If you are in good health, a team player with good communication skill take a free 2 hour ESS workshop.
Learn more about volunteering.