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

What is Emergency
Social Services?

Volunteer Information

Volunteer Information

We are always looking for Emergency Social Services Volunteers for Vancouver.

What do ESS volunteers do?

Emergency Social Services program is based on volunteerism, and is dependent on the willingness of individuals in the community to help plan for the well-being of their neighbours and fellow citizens in the event of a disaster.

ESS volunteers assist their communities in many ways, including:

Informing local businesses of the program
Identifying potential reception centres and group lodging sites
Recruiting and training more volunteers
Completing contact lists and exercising their plan
Informing the public of help available following a disaster
Providing for the essential needs of people affected by a disaster

Volunteers should possess the following qualities:

A concern for people affected by disaster
Good communication skills
Ability to respond on short notice
Flexibility and willingness to work as part of a team
Good health
A sense of adventure

In addition, special skills such as volunteer management, interviewing skills and second languages are welcome assets.

Create a profile on our Volunteer Software here
Call Jackie Kloosterboer at 604-829-4373 for information

The workshop takes 2 hours and covers theses topics:

What is ESS
Who are our partner agencies
What is the Emergency Structure in Vancouver and how does ESS fit in
The community based ESS Program in Vancouver
Personal Preparedness

Three Ways You Can Volunteer

	Take the basic core training for Emergency Social Services and agree to be on call if there is a disaster or emergency in the City of Vancouver. We realize that volunteers have other commitments, and you may not be available due to work, school or other reasons. There is no problem with this, you can still decline if you’re busy. We just need a file of trained volunteers that we can reach in an emergency. If you attend the Intro to ESS workshop, we will give you a registration form to fill out. We can then send you notices on upcoming special events and training. The following list of basic core training is available on a regular basis in Vancouver: Reception Centre Operations (1 day Justice Institute course) Group Lodging Operations (1 day, Justice Institute course) Family Reunification (3 hour Red Cross training) and Referrals (3 hour JIBC training) Walk in Disaster Volunteer Training (1 day Justice Institute course) If you have not completed training, but get a call from us, we will train you on the spot when you arrive at an Emergency Reception Centre/Shelter. We will have workshops in many other services to evacuees as well. (Pet services, administration services, resource providing, volunteer services, etc.) We expect volunteers to participate in simulation exercises if you are available when they are offered.

	Agree to get involved on the Steering Committee of a community based ESS Team. We are slowly developing teams in neighbourhoods across the City. These committees help to recruit more volunteers, identify training needs, look for local community resources, plan exercises, and develop a workable call out and response plan in their community. Interested? Call Jackie Kloosterboer at 604-829-4373 for information.

	Become a member of the Disaster Assistance Team in Vancouver, which assists residents who are displaced from their homes due to flood or fire. You must apply to get involved and go through an interview and screening procedure.

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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.