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Other Emergency-related sites from the City of Vancouver: Emergency Preparedness & Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program

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Social Services?

Volunteer Information

Disaster Assistance Program

Primary Role

The Vancouver Disaster Assistance Program is a volunteer based service co-ordinated by Vancouver's Emergency Management Team and the Vancouver Emergency Social Services (ESS) team. The program will provide lodging, meals, clothing and other resources to fire evacuees in Vancouver. The Disaster Assistance team is comprised of 14 volunteers with 4 captains on an alternating basis. Supervised by the ESS Co-ordinator, the team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Volunteers will assist evacuees at the scene of the fire, and get them placed in hotels that have a pre-existing agreement with the program. Follow up over the next 3 days is done with the evacuees to ensure that all their needs are met and that they have contacted resources to help them relocate if necessary.

The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) will cover approved costs over a 72 hour period provided that the evacuees have no insurance.

Partner agencies that provide support, training and resources to the program are; The Vancouver Park Board, The Canadian Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The City Tenant Assistance Program, Vancouver Police Victim Services and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.

Secondary Role

The Disaster Assistance Team is an advanced ESS team, quickly available to the City to set up a reception centre in a medium to large ESS activation. The role of the team is:

To establish a Reception Centre if enough volunteers are available.
The Disaster Assistance Team will await the mobilization of the ESS Headquarters, and determine immediate needs of the evacuees in the short term.
The Team will provide assistance to neighbouring municipalities on the direction of the ESS Director, if requested through a mutual aid agreement.

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Send e-mail to ess@vancouver.ca or call 3-1-1 (within Vancouver) or 604.873.7000 (outside Vancouver) with inquiries or comments.