Emergency Support Services update

McDougall Creek Wildfire 2023

Kelowna, B.C. – The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre is supporting evacuees who need assistance through Emergency Support Services.  

To help make the Emergency Support Services registration process easier at Royal Lepage Place, a new queue system has been created. 

  • Once you have registered online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca, if you need more services you must attend a reception centre. This queue service is currently only open at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna. 
  • The registration desk will give you a coloured card with your queue number. Each colour holds up to 100 numbers. 
  • You can check where you are in the queue by visiting “ESS Queue” link on the front page at cordemergency.ca 
  • On the webpage, you will see the colour the registration desk is currently serving and the upcoming colour block.  
  • This will help to give you an idea when you need to return to the registration area to sit down with an ESS volunteer who can help you. 

Evacuees are encouraged to connect with family and friends for temporary accommodation. Those who have a place to stay should still register at https://ess.gov.bc.ca, and indicate if additional supports outside of lodging are needed. 

After registering online, evacuees who need lodging or others supports can attend the reception centre nearest them to speak with an ESS volunteer. The three reception centres are: 

  • Royal LePage Place at 2760 Cameron Road in West Kelowna 
  • Kal Tire Place at 3445 43 Avenue in Vernon 
  • Princess Margaret Secondary School, 120 Green Ave West, in Penticton 

All reception centres are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Please note, the queue is currently only available at the Royal LePage Place reception centre in West Kelowna. 

The reception centres are experiencing significant volumes of people registering and volunteers are working to process applications for support as quickly as possible. ESS teams will get to everyone’s applications and patience is appreciated. Currently, the priority is for those needing lodging and accommodation. People who have other supports with family and friends are not required to visit a reception centre.  

Evacuees who do require lodging should register online and visit a reception centre. A variety of accommodations will be offered, whether hotel/motel, group lodging or a dormitory, depending on household size, needs and available lodging types. 

If you have home or tenant insurance, you may already have coverage for accommodations and supports under your insurance policy. If your insurance policy information isn’t readily available, please call your local broker or the Insurance Bureau Canada Western Branch 1-844-227-5422 (leave a detailed message) to track down your policy information. 

Prospera Place in downtown Kelowna is NOT a reception centre. It is a group lodging centre, a location for reprieve from the smoke and is prioritized for evacuees.  

Residents are asked to stay up to date through the CORD emergency site and also subscribe to receive e-updates. Go online to cordemergency.ca. View the up-to-date evacuation order and alert areas on cordemergency.ca/map.  

For more information, contact the information line at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free). 

For municipal and local government information such as boat launch, park and road closures, visit their websites: 

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cordemergency.ca 

http://facebook.com/cordemergency   

http://twitter.com/co_emerg