What to do after an emergency

Residents with home and tenant insurance who need help working with their insurance providers can refer to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

Toll-free phone: 1-844-227-5422
Email: AskIBCWest@ibc.ca

Note You may find the IBC webpage helpful even though it's meant for residents whose homes were damaged by wildfires.

The Residential Tenancy Branch External website, opens in new tab offers tools, resources, and services for tenants and landlords.

Phone: 1-800-665-8779 (Available in over 200 languages)

Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre External website, opens in new tab (TRAC) is a non-profit organization that provides free legal education, representation, and advocacy to tenants in BC.

Phone: 1-800-665-1185

Canada Post can hold your mail or forward it to a new address.

Learn more on how you can manage your mail delivery services with Canada Post External website, opens in new tab

If you're expecting a package delivery, contact the delivery service directly. 

These crisis lines and chat services connect you with trained volunteers who can offer immediate access to barrier-free, non-judgemental, confidential mental health support, and follow-up to youth, adults, and seniors through 24 hours a day, 7 days a week phone lines and online services.

Crisis lines and chat services

• Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433 
• Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 
• Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line: 604-872-3311 
• Seniors Distress Line: 604-872-1234 
• Online chat service for youth External website, opens in new tab  (Noon to 1am) 
• Online chat service for adults External website, opens in new tab (Noon to 1am) 

Additional resources

• Crisis Line Association of BC External website, opens in new tab 
• HealthLink BC External website, opens in new tab

If you need help getting food after an emergency, there are resources available to support you:

• Emergency Meal Map PDF file (658 KB)
• Free and low cost resources (food and clothing)
• Carnegie Centre cafeteria and kitchen
• Evelyne Saller Centre cafeteria
• Gathering Place cafeteria
• Greater Vancouver Food Bank External website, opens in new tab
• Vancouver Community Fridge Project External website, opens in new tab
• Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks External website, opens in new tab

• BC SPCA
  • Website: BC SPCA emergency response services External website, opens in new tab
  • Phone: 1-855-622-7722
• Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA)
  • Website: VOKRA External website, opens in new tab
  • Phone: 604-731-2913

Using a cleanup or restoration company

If a property has significant damage, fire debris, or ash, you may consult a professional hazardous materials cleanup or restoration service company to assist in the cleanup.

Managing the cleanup yourself

If you would like to manage any cleanup yourself:

• Use protective equipment such as masks (well-fitted N95 mask recommended), goggles, rubber gloves, boots, long sleeve shirt, and pants to prevent exposure to ash and dust
• Keep children away from the vicinity while cleanup is in progress
• Keep pets away from burned areas because of the potential risk to their health and ability to spread ash and debris and prevent pets drinking from puddles or runoff contaminated with any ash or fire debris
• Clean ash off house pets and other domesticated animals if they have been in contaminated areas. 
• Gently sweep indoor and outdoor hard surfaces and follow by wet mopping clean up ash residue, in most cases (A damp cloth or wet mop may be all that is needed on lightly dusted areas.)
• Collect ash and fire debris and dispose it in the regular trash (Ash may be stored in plastic bags or other containers to help prevent it from being disturbed.)
• Do not consume any food, beverages, or medication that have been exposed to burns, debris, or ash
• Use mild detergent and clean water to wash outdoor areas and children’s outside toys, play and recreational equipment, and outdoor furniture 
• Wash fruit or vegetables from your vegetable garden or fruit trees thoroughly before eating 

Who to contact for health and safety information about debris following a fire

Environmental Health at Vancouver Coastal Health

Phone: 604-675-3800
Email: ehvc@vch.ca

If the power has been out or you have been away from your home for a long period of time, check the condition of food items.

For information on food safety and handling food during power outages and emergencies, review the resource guide from Health Canada External website, opens in new tab.

For information on power and gas services, refer to FortisBC or BC Hydro.

Review outages at:

• FortisBC External website, opens in new tab
• BC Hydro External website, opens in new tab

For information about internet and land-line connection, contact your service provider directly.

Traffic or parking may be impacted after an emergency. Check our social media channels for the latest information about traffic updates. If there are crews on site, follow all signage and instructions from crews.

For information on impacts to transit service, refer to TransLink External website, opens in new tab.

If you are receiving financial support from MSDPR, you may want to contact them to provide them with an update on your circumstance.

Phone: 1-866-866-0800 (7-1-1 for deaf and hard of hearing)

Emergency and Disaster Services may be able to provide support for personal disasters, such as a house fire. 

Phone: 1-888-800-6493

Get support from health professionals and service navigators in over 130 languages.

Website: HealthLink BC External website, opens in new tab
Phone: 8-1-1 (7-1-1 for deaf and hard of hearing)

24/7 service navigators can help you find community programs and services.

Website: Live chat, email submission form, and more External website, opens in new tab
Phone or text: 2-1-1 (interpretation available)

You can use the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) as a resource for navigating or finding community support services.

Website: VPL email submission form External website, opens in new tab
Phone: 604-331-3603