B.C. seeks input to better support evacuees in face of worsening climate crises

The B.C. government is looking for public feedback to better support people who are forced to evacuate their homes during disasters like wildfires and floods.

The province is hoping to hear from people about the current supports available with the hopes of improving or changing processes amid “increasing frequency and severity” of these events due to climate change.

“During the 2023 wildfire season, thousands of people were asked to evacuate their home on short notice and the province was there to support them,” said George Heyman, acting Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

“Times like last summer are challenging, uncertain and emotional for people, communities and businesses, and we learned a lot about how we can better support people in the future from experience and conversations that are ongoing.”

The government says it is “revamping its approach” in the face of these worsening crises, “to ensure people and communities are receiving the supports they need.”

This, it explains, involves updating its Emergency Support Services (ESS) program, to ensure it provides people with the resources and help they need when they are displaced in an emergency.

The ESS program, which is administered through First Nations and local governments, helps people who are affected by disasters by providing them with short-term shelter, food, transportation, clothing, and incidentals.

The province is hoping to hear from not just evacuees, but also from front-line workers, volunteers, families, and businesses about what they feel needs to be improved within the program.

People can take part in the online survey until 4 p.m. on Feb. 9.

The B.C. government says the feedback provided will be used to help the expert task force on emergencies revamp the ESS program, before the 2024 wildfire season.

The province will also implement recommendations from the ombudsperson’s report, Fairness in a Changing Climate, in the wake of the 2023 wildfire season to enhance the ESS program.

The 14-member task force, appointed by Premier David Eby last year, has been “meeting regularly” since last October to identify areas in B.C.’s emergency response that need improvement, the province says.

The online survey comes after officials held more than 20 engagement sessions across B.C. over the past several month.

“Last summer, thousands of Shuswap residents were forced to evacuate their homes and our ESS team helped families meet their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter,” said Cathy Semchuk, emergency program co-ordinator for Columbia Shuswap Regional District.

“Our ESS team appreciated the opportunity to participate in the recent engagement sessions, where we had the opportunity to share our experiences, success stories and ideas for improvements. Whether you are a volunteer, an evacuee or a supplier, please complete this survey to help improve ESS.”

According to the B.C. government, about 24,300 households were placed under evacuation order in the summer of 2023 due to raging wildfires and more than 7,000 households requested and received ESS support.