Delta Emergency Social Services
This page covers the following topics:
Overview
Emergency Social Services (ESS) is a program that provides short term disaster relief across British Columbia in the event of fires, floods, earthquakes or other emergencies.
ESS depends on community volunteers to plan and provide for the essential needs of individuals, families and response workers. This may include food, shelter, clothing, emotional support and finding loved ones.
The Delta ESS Team comes under the Delta Emergency Program Office and is therefore the responsibility of the Emergency Program Manager for the Corporation of Delta. The Delta Emergency Program Manager administers Delta's ESS Team in consultation with Delta's Emergency Planner and the Delta Emergency Social Services Director.
To find out more information about Emergency Social Services, go to the Delta Emergency Social Services website at http://www.deltaess72hrs.com/ and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General website at http://www.ess.bc.ca/index.htm.
[ back to top ]
ESS Volunteer Responsibilities
Delta's ESS volunteers are responsible for obtaining complete training as volunteers. Volunteers are also responsible for undertaking their own personal preparedness to be able to respond quickly and professionally during emergency situations.
In the event of a major emergency or disaster in Delta, the volunteers' first responsibility is both their safety and their family's safety and security. When this has been established, they are responsible for providing emergency human support services such as:
- registration and inquiry,
- personal services,
- food,
- clothing, and
- shelter.
[ back to top ]
How to Become a Volunteer
You are undoubtedly familiar with the services of the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the Ambulance Service all of whom respond to provide emergency services in our community. But have you ever wondered what happens to the people that are evacuated from their home during a major emergency or disaster in Delta? When you hear the reports the next morning of an apartment fire, do you know what support services are in place to care for the victims of the incident? Ever wondered how you might help??
Delta Emergency Social Services (ESS) is a group of volunteers (approximately 70 volunteers, about 25 are active), who respond to provide human services during a major incident. The ESS Team undertakes training to assist in preparing themselves and their families to deal with disasters, ensuring that as soon as they are able, they will respond to provide services such as food, clothing, shelter and emotional support to those affected by the incident.
If this interests you, the Delta Emergency Social Services program is currently recruiting new volunteers. A commitment of approximately 2-4 hours a month is required for training and exercise, and we take summers off (unless we're activated!). We offer a great program with training in personal preparedness, first aid, food safe, and lay building inspection, as well as a number of courses which are geared toward specific Emergency Social Services functions in the Reception Centres.
For more information about becoming an ESS volunteer, please email ess@corp.delta.bc.ca.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Some documents on this page are available in Adobe Acrobat Reader® PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader® you may download it for free by clicking on the link to the right. [ back to top ]