If you have been forced from your home by fire, floods or other emergencies, you may receive Emergency Support Services (ESS) for up to 72 hours, including temporary lodging, food and clothing among other specialized services.
To receive these services you must register with the Provincial ESS. Registering online through their Evacuee Registration Assistance program page is the most efficient way to register.
For smaller events, ESS services may be provided on site. For larger events, ESS will often have a reception centre established.
Bulkley Emergency Support Services is Looking for Volunteers!
Who are We?
Bulkley Emergency Support Services (BESS) is a community volunteer organization that provides services to residents who have been affected by an emergency or disaster in the Town of Smithers, Village of Telkwa and Regional District of Bulkley Nechako.
BESS provides care for those affected by various emergencies and disasters, from single-family home fires to larger-scale disasters, such as wildfire and flooding events.
BESS provides emergency support for up to 72 hours after an event such as lodging, food, clothing, and essential items. Larger-scale events may require Group Lodging and Reception Centers to provide more extensive, longer-term services such as: childcare, family reunification, transportation, communication, health care and many more services through stakeholders and partners. BESS also has a mobile contingency where volunteers can deploy to other areas to support other teams through our Mobile Response Unit/ Command Unit and Mobile Reception Centre.
Training
Training is provided free of charge to volunteers through the Justice Institute of BC. Volunteers will have the opportunity to receive training in the following (within the first year):
- Mobile ESS Response
- Emergency Scene Response (Level One)
- Evacuee Registration and Referrals
- Emergency Reception Centre and Group Lodging Centre Operations
- Phycological First Aid
- Incident Command System Training
- Communications Training
- Advanced First Aid
Training takes place every second Thursday at 18:30 in Smithers.
There are also additional training opportunities such as mock simulations and joint operations with other emergency services agencies and groups.
Opportunities
As a BESS volunteer, you may be activated and sent as part of a team to:
- respond to emergencies and disaster scenes
- set up a reception center
- staff group lodging and reception centers
- assist with organizing and facilitating services
This is a great opportunity to be involved in your community and work alongside other emergency services agencies.
Email volunteer@bulkleyess.ca for more information and to apply!
Junior Emergency Support Services (ESS) Program
Learn real skills. Get hands-on experience. Help your community.
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when an emergency or disaster affects our community?
The Junior ESS Program gives youth ages 15–18 the opportunity to learn how communities prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, while gaining practical experience alongside trained ESS volunteers and emergency responders.
This is more than a classroom program. You’ll have opportunities to learn by doing, build confidence, develop teamwork and communication skills, and get a firsthand look at emergency response in action.
What will you learn?
Junior ESS participants will get exposure to a wide range of emergency management and response skills, including:
- Emergency scene response and operations
- Emergency Reception Centre (ERC) operations
- Supporting evacuees during emergencies and disasters
- First aid and emergency medical care
- Emergency communications
- Incident Command System (ICS)
- Teamwork and emergency response coordination
- Emergency preparedness and public outreach
- Disaster response and community resilience
- Working alongside ESS, police, fire and ambulance responders
And so much more!
Get involved. Make a difference.
Emergencies can happen anywhere, and trained, prepared volunteers play an important role in helping communities respond.
The Junior ESS Program is a chance to develop practical skills, meet experienced emergency responders, and learn what it takes to support people when they need help most.
Whether you’re interested in emergency services as a future career, want to learn valuable life skills, or simply want to get involved and make a difference in your community, Junior ESS is a great place to start.
Ready to get started?
Junior ESS is open to youth ages 15–18.
For more information about the program or how to get involved:
Email: volunteers@bulkleyess.ca