DROKACADEMY

A healing and writing space. Love. Care. Share.

Subscribe

Twelve-Step Guide to Resources in Kamloops and Southern BC to Support Flood Evacuees (State of Emergency)

—

by

Sasha
in
11–17 minutes
A flooded field of tall grass with a basketball hoop standing in the water under a foggy sky.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/body-of-water-surrounded-with-grass-3122812/

Compiled by Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov, PhD

Updated November 18, 2021

PDF Link

Contents

Step 1: Review Useful Resource Guides.

Step 2: Check States of Emergency, Evacuation Orders and Alerts.

Step 3: Find Access to Emergency Support Services (ESS)

Step 4: Review Emergency Support Services (ESS) Step by Step Guide.

Step 5: Find Sandbag Locations.

Step 6: Share Information for Weather and Travel Resources.

Step 7: Plan ahead: Preparedness and Recovery Resources.

Step 8 Care for Pets and Livestock.

Step 9 Prepare for Clean Up and Returning Home.

Step 10 Practice Self-Care and Mental Well-Being.

Step 11: Find Online Community: (social media updates, and resources)

Step 12: Share Resources: Ways to Donate.

Step 1: Review Useful Resource Guides

Step 2: Check States of Emergency, Evacuation Orders and Alerts

  • Check for recent updates: Provincial Evacuation Orders, Alerts, and Rescinds  EmergencyInfoBC current flooding information page  for current flooding information, including a summary of evacuation orders, alerts, and rescinds. Includes links to local government/authority websites for the most up-to-date information about local areas. Information also available in map format at EmergencyMapBC: EmergencyMapBC map viewer
  • When required, an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will be opened by the Regional District to support the emergency or disaster. An EOC is responsible for various duties such as declaring states of local emergency (SOLEs) as well as issuing evacuation orders and alerts.

Step 3: Find Access to Emergency Support Services (ESS)

Step 4: Review Emergency Support Services (ESS) Step by Step Guide

  • Step 1: Self-register online at ess.gov.bc.ca. If you require assistance with self-registration you can ask for help by calling the Emergency Support Services Info Line: 1-800-585-9559.
  • Step 2: Proceed to the nearest Reception Centre (listed below) to complete the ESS registration. You will also be asked to complete a needs assessment to determine what short-term supports you require (e.g. food, lodging, clothing and incidentals). Tip: After you register, you may receive calls from unlisted numbers regarding your evacuee registration. Make sure your voicemail box is not full so ESS volunteers can leave a message.
  • Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre Locations: Please check updated locations on the EmergencyInfoBC current flooding information page
    • Agassiz:
      • Agassiz Agricultural Hall, 6800 Pioneer Avenue (for evacuees from the Hwy #7 slides)
    • Chilliwack:
      • Chilliwack Secondary, 46363 Yale Road
  • Flood Watch Warning and Closures – City of Chilliwack Flood Watch page
    • Chilliwack ESS Reception Centre located at the Chilliwack Landing Sports Centre – 45530 Spadina Avenue
  • Cowichan Valley Regional District:
    • Cowichan Community Centre – 2687 James St, Duncan, BC V9L 2X5
    • Cowichan Tribes Gym – 5574 River Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 6V9 250-732-1475
    • Hope:
      • Grace Baptist Church, 949 3 Ave, Hope, BC V0X 1L0
      • Hope Secondary School, 444 Stuart St, Hope, BC V0X 1L0
      • Coquihalla River and Silver-Hope Creek remain high and fast flowing.  Residents are reminded to stay clear of fast moving water and river banks.  Staff continue to monitor the situation.  Hope Secondary School (444 Stuart St.) is open if you leave your home at this time.
    • Kelowna:
      • Parkinson Activity Centre, 1700 Parkinson Way
    • Kamloops:
      • McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre, 1655 Island Parkway
      • Kamloops Food Bank – 171 Wilson St, Kamloops, BC V2B 2M8 (250) 376-2252
      • thetree2020 Facebook page  planning to open our centre (657 Seymour Street) on Saturday from 10 – 4 so that evacuee’s can have access to our donation room. We have clothes for babies, children, and women. We do not have much for men unfortunately. We also have baby equipment, new bottles, and some diapers (size one). We will be bringing all donations up to our main floor and setting them up for ease of access
      • No Limits Fitness on Facebook With all of the catastrophic flooding happening, No Limits Fitness would like to do our part in the community by opening our doors to anyone displaced by the flooding or road closures. Please present ID at front desk!
      •  
    • Lillooet
      • Lillooet Friendship Centre: Community Cares Building
      • 76 5th Avenue (please pre-register as above)
      • Evacuation Orders: An Evacuation Order has been issued by the District of Kent Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) due to the potential danger to life and health for the following area: Rockwell Drive: Rockwell Drive, north to Lillooet Road Reception Centre for Displaced Residents The Emergency Operations Centre at Municipal Hall will be open until 6:00 pm for phone enquiries only. For after hours emergencies, please call 911. If you do not require emergency support services (ie, accommodation, food, etc) please register online through the District of Kent Evacuation Declaration form.
    • RDOS / Penticton:
      • Bus Barn, 199 Ellis Street Penticton
      • If they you have access to use a phone safely, please call Penticton ESS at 1-833-498-3770 as soon as possible.
      • If you cannot access a phone, please go to 2965 South Main Street, Penticton (Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre)
    • Salmon Arm:
      • The Prestige, 251 Harbourfront Drive Open from 8 AM to 6 PM until further notice

Step 5: Find Sandbag Locations

  • Abbotsford Abbotsford Residents requiring sand & sandbags can attend the City of Abbotsford Works Yard located at 31739 King Rd.  Sand & Bags are located outside the main gates.  Please bring a shovel with you to fill the bags.
  • Chilliwack The City has supplied sandbags and sand at Townsend Park (45130 Wolfe Rd)
  • Mission The City of Mission has free sandbags available for collection from the Public Works car park at 33835 Dewdney Trunk Rd. The public is asked to go to the parking lot gate west of the building.
  • Oak Bay Residents are able to get sandbags at the Public Works yard located at 1771 Elgin Road. Please report any flooding to Public Works at 250-598-4501.
  • Port Coquitlam We will be making sand and sandbags available for residents. Residents can pick the bags up at the entrance of our Works Yard (1737 Broadway).
  • Sooke Sandbag station is open at the #Sooke Parks Works Yard, 2070 Kaltasin Road. Sandbags and sand are provided at no charge. Please bring your own shovel.  Learn more: http://sooke.link/1cha
  • Tulameen Sand and sandbags are available at the Tulameen and District Fire Hall. You can also find updated sand and sandbagging locations, as well as an informational video at: Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen emergency website
  • Kamloops (Previous floods) Castanet: Here’s a list of where you can find sand and sandbags in Kamloops

Step 6: Share Information for Weather and Travel Resources

●      Severe Weather Environment Canada severe weather page  

Step 7: Plan ahead: Preparedness and Recovery Resources

●      PreparedBC This is the government website for disaster readiness information. It has flood Information for Homeowners and Home Buyers, including tips on preparing for floods, and protecting your home and property. PreparedBC floods page

●      Disaster Financial Assistance Those impacted by recent flooding may apply to the Province for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) where losses could not be insured or where other programs are not available. Information regarding DFA may be obtained from:

Emergency Management BC Phone: 1-888-257-4777 Email: dfa@gov.bc.ca Website: Government of BC Disaster Financial Assistance page

Financial assistance in a disaster

Disaster Financial Assistance for local communities

Step 8 Care for Pets and Livestock

Step 9 Prepare for Clean Up and Returning Home

Step 10 Practice Self-Care and Mental Well-Being

  • 310 Mental Health Support offers 24-hour emotional support and information and referral services, call 310-1234 (no area code required).
  • Canadian Mental Health Association offers mental health tips  CMHA BC: Coping Through a Natural Disaster Emergency for you and your family on coping through a natural disaster emergency.
  • Bounce Back is a free program teaching effective skills to overcome symptoms of mild to moderate depression or anxiety and improve their mental health, suitable for people who have suffered fear, anxiety and loss from stressful events such as a disaster.
  • For those needing immediate crisis emotional support, call 1-833-546-4566.
  • If you are concerned for the immediate safety or yourself or someone else, call a local crisis support line or 911 right away.
  • All of BC:

1800SUICIDE (24 hours): 1-800-784-2433 310

Mental Health Support (24 hours): 310-6789

Toll Free (24 hours): 1-800-588-8717

Adult/Elders Crisis Line (24 hours): (250) 723-4050

Child/Youth Crisis Line (24 hours): (250) 723-2040

Youth Text (6pm-12am): (778) 783-0177

Youth Chat (6pm-12am): www.youthspace.ca

Toll Free (24 hours): 1-888-353-CARE (2273)

 Crisis Chat Service

Toll Free (24 hours): 1-866-661-3311

Toll Free TTY (24 hours): 1-866-872-0113

Crisis Chat: crisiscentrechat.ca

Toll Free (24 hours): 1-877-820-7444

Crisis Line (24 hours): (604) 951-8855

Toll Free: 1-888-852-9099

Crisis Line: (604) 852-9099

Toll Free (24 hours): 1-888-562-1214

Crisis Line (24 hours): (250) 563-1214

Toll Free Youth Support: 1-888-564-8336

Youth Support: (250) 564-8336 Crisis Chat: www.northernyouthonline.ca

Crisis Line (8am-12am): (604) 279-7070

Cantonese Crisis Line (10am-10pm): (604) 270-8233

Mandarin Crisis Line (10am-10pm): (604) 270-8222

Toll Free (24 hours): 1-888-494-3888

Crisis Text: (250) 800-3806

Crisis Chat: www.vicrisis.ca

  • More Resources Crisis Services Canada local resources page   Call 1.833.456.4566 | Text  45645
     
  • ​1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433): Crisis Line Association of BC services page  for individuals who are or know someone who is having thoughts of suicide. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and in up to 140 languages. Operated in partnership with Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C.
  • Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868 or text 686868) Kids Help Phone website : Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 national service offering professional counselling, information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support for young people in English and French. Now, Indigenous people can connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder, when available, by messaging FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to 686868 for young people and 741741 for adults or through Crisis Text Line on Facebook Messenger
  • Coping with natural disaster stress

Step 11: Find Online Community: (social media updates, and resources)

Step 12: Share Resources: Ways to Donate

Sent to the list:
Topics:

Get posts like this by email

Choose the lists you want on the Subscribe page, or enter your email here. Leave at any time with one click.