Emergency Support Services

Emergency Support Services (ESS) is a provincial program delivered by local governments and First Nations that provides short-term assistance to people who are forced to leave their homes due to emergencies. ESS is designed to help British Columbians and families meet their basic needs while evacuating from their home. When an emergency or disaster strikes, our local Emergency Support Services (ESS) team members are there to help. Our regional ESS team is made up of local, compassionate volunteers, who want to make a difference when their friends and neighbours need it most.

You may be eligible for ESS if:

• Your primary residence is under official evacuation order
• You are unable to return home due to damage or danger
• You have limited access to resources or support, such as insurance, savings, or a place to stay

ESS supports are only provided if you are evacuated from your primary residence, not vacation homes or investment properties.

Pre-Register for ESS Support

An important step residents can take during the Evacuation Alert stage is ensuring they have signed up for the BC Services Card app and pre-registering for provincial Emergency Support Services. 

Pre-registering can streamline the emergency registration process in the event of an evacuation Order, help avoid long lineups at reception centres, and allow you to receive financial assistance via Interac e-Transfer rather than paper vouchers.

Here are some steps to take to pre-register:

• Download the BC Services Card app. CLICK HERE to view a video on this step in the process.
  Complete identity verification by either:
  • visiting a Service BC office in person; or
  • using the app's Verify by Video option.
    • If you choose the video verification option, you can contact the BC Evacuee Helpline ([hidden]) after submitting your video to request that their verification be expedited if an evacuation occurs.
• Once you have your BC Services Card, you can create a profile and pre-register for Emergency Support Services (ESS) using the Evacuee Registration and Assistance (ERA) tool. You can learn more here: https://ess.gov.bc.ca/

Having a verified BC Services Card account and an ERA profile in place before an evacuation can significantly reduce registration time and allows eligible evacuees to access remote ESS supports, including Interac e-Transfer. Individuals who do not have a BC Services Card account can still create an ERA profile and receive in-person ESS support if required.