Provincial Emergency Program (British Columbia)

Infobox Government agency
agency_name = Provincial Emergency Program
nativename = Provincial de protection civile de la Colombie-Britannique [ [http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=Fr&n=714D9AAE-1&news=4926CA3E-4E3B-49DF-B95B-25678DA10DD4 Communiqué de presse] ]
nativename_a =
nativename_r =

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logo_width = 190px
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formed = 1996
jurisdiction = Province of British Columbia
headquarters = Victoria, British Columbia
employees =
budget =
minister1_name = John van Dongen
minister1_pfo = Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
chief1_name = Cam Filmer
chief1_position = Executive Director
website = [http://www.pep.bc.ca/index.html PEP Homepage]
footnotes =

The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) is a division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Emergency Management British Columbia, Canada. PEP works with local governments and other provincial and federal agencies year round, providing coordination and support before, during and after emergencies. PEP is administered under the "Emergency Program Act".

PEP has its headquarters in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and incorporates six regional offices throughout the province in Surrey, Kamloops, Nelson, Terrace, Prince George and Victoria.

Day-to-day, the Province of B.C. is available to respond to local government and agency calls through an emergency coordination centre that is staffed 24/7.

British Columbia Emergency Response Management System

The Province of British Columbia has developed and adopted the British Columbia Emergency Response Management System (BCERMS). BCERMS is a comprehensive emergency management system based on the Incident Command System (ICS). This supports a coordinated and organized response and recovery to all emergency incidents and disasters.

Emergency Management Planning and Response

Multi-agency hazard plans for B.C. are prepared and updated regularly by the Province to ensure an effective strategy is in place to address many possible types of emergencies and disasters. These plans foster cooperation among multiple organizations. They focus on public safety, infrastructure and property protection and management of the aftermath of events.

British Columbia’s comprehensive emergency management system promotes a coordinated and organized response to all emergency incidents and disasters. The structure provides the framework for a standardized emergency response in the province.

At the most fundamental level, it is up to the individual to know about the risks in their region and what to do in an emergency to protect themselves and their family. Everyone should be aware of the importance of Personal Emergency Preparedness.

Local governments lead the initial response to emergencies and disasters in their communities. They have emergency plans and maintain an emergency management organization to support the actions of first responders.

The provincial emergency management structure is activated when a B.C. community or any significant infrastructure is threatened by an emergency or disaster that may require additional or specialized resources.

Disaster Financial Assistance

British Columbia has a program to help those impacted by a disaster cope with the cost of repairs and recovery from disaster-related property damage.

The Disaster Financial Assistance Program (DFA) is administered by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General through the Provincial Emergency Program under the authority of the Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation.

Those impacted by a disaster may apply to the province for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) where the losses could not be insured or where other programs are not available. Disaster financial assistance helps to replace or restore essential items and property that have been destroyed or damaged to pre-disaster condition.

Assistance is available to qualifying home owners, residential tenants, small businesses, farm operators, and not-for-profit charitable organizations.

B.C.'s Public Safety Lifeline

About 13,000 people across the province volunteer their time and expertise in preparing for and responding to emergency situations. The Provincial Emergency Program provides support for many volunteers and also provides the essential legal authority to recognized volunteer groups in responding to emergencies and disasters. Registered public safety lifeline volunteers are eligible for some benefits and basic response expenses. There is additional support available in the way of coordination and training.

Emergency volunteers come from every corner of the province and from all walks of life. Public safety lifeline volunteers respond to an average of 6,000 incidents a year, in all kinds of weather, any place, any time.

Emergency Social Services

Emergency Social Services provides short-term assistance to British Columbians who are forced to leave their homes because of fire, floods, earthquakes or other emergencies. This assistance includes food, lodging, clothing, emotional support and family reunification.

British Columbia Search and Rescue

Annually, Search and Rescue volunteers in B.C. respond to over 1000 searches province-wide. Volunteer responders donate over 120,000 hours of their time on callouts and recent statistics show an astounding 95% of the subjects were found.

Search and rescue is further broken down into individual teams what operate in an area of the province where they are responsible for familiarity and access. They may be tasked from a variety of agencies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local police force, BC Ambulance, or the [http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/ Coroner's service] , and can be called to assist the Coast Guard, Department of National Defence, and Parks Canada.

As of 2005 there were 93 individual SAR teams in the province, comprising approximately 4700 volunteers, and conducting an average of 900 operations per year, locating an average of 1200 people per year. [ cite web
url=http://www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/Ground_SAR_Backgrounder_update-2005.pdf
title=Ground SAR Backgrounder
accessdate=2007-03-15
format=PDF
work=Provincial Emergency Program
date=2007-06-14]

PEP-affiliated SAR teams in BC are represented by the [http://www.bcsara.com British Columbia Search and Rescue Association] , as well as by their individual teams.

List of PEP-affiliated SAR teams in BC

* [http://sar.100mile.com/ 100 Mile & District Search and Rescue]
* Alberni Valley Rescue Squad
* All Island Search and Rescue
* Anahim Lake Search and Rescue Association
* [http://www.asar.ca/ Arrowsmith Search and Rescue Society]
* Barriere Search and Rescue Association
* Beaver Valley Search and Rescue
* Bella Coola Valley Search and Rescue
* [http://www.cancaver.ca/bccr/index.htm British Columbia Cave Rescue]
* [http://www.bvsar.com Bulkley Valley Search and Rescue]
* Burns Lake Search and Rescue
* Campbell River Search and Rescue Society
* [http://www.csar.bc.ca/ Castlegar Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.ccsar.ca/ Central Cariboo Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.cfvsar.bc.ca/ Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue Society]
* [http://www.cosar.ca/ Central Okanagan Search & Rescue Society]
* [http://www.chetsar.bc.ca/ Chetwynd Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.chilliwacksar.org/ Chilliwack Search and Rescue]
* Clearwater Search and Rescue
* Columbia Valley Search and Rescue
* [http://www.cvgsar.com/ Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.coquitlam-sar.bc.ca Coquitlam Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.cowichansar.com Cowichan Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.cranbrooksar.bc.ca/ Cranbrook and District Search and Rescue]
* Dease Lake Search and Rescue
* Elkford Search and Rescue
* Fernie Search and Rescue
* Fort Nelson Search and Rescue
* [http://www.fsjames.com/~gsar/ Fort St. James Search and Rescue]
* Gabriola Island Search and Rescue
* [http://www.goldensar.bc.ca/ Golden & District Search and Rescue Society]
* Grand Forks Search and Rescue
* [http://www.hopesar.com/ Hope Volunteer Search and Rescue Group]
* Juan de Fuca Ground Search and Rescue
* [http://www.ksar.ca/ Kamloops Search and Rescue Society]
* Kaslo Search and Rescue
* [http://www.khsar.com/ Kent Harrison Search & Rescue]
* Keremeos Search and Rescue
* [http://www.kimberleysar.org/ Kimberley Search and Rescue]
* Kitimat Search and Rescue

* Ladysmith Search and Rescue
* Lake Cowichan Search and Rescue
* [http://www.lbsar.com/ Lions Bay Search and Rescue]
* Logan Lake Search and Rescue
* Mayne Island Search and Rescue
* Metchosin Search and Rescue
* [http://www.missionsar.com/ Mission Search and Rescue]
* Nakusp Search and Rescue
* [http://www.nanaimosar.bc.ca/ Nanaimo Search and Rescue Society]
* [http://www.nelsonsar.com/ Nelson Search and Rescue]
* Nicola Valley Search and Rescue
* North Peace Search and Rescue
* [http://www.northshorerescue.com/ North Shore Rescue]
* Oliver - Osoyoos Search and Rescue
* Pemberton District Search and Rescue
* Pender Island Search and Rescue
* Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization
* [http://www.pensar.ca/ Penticton and District Emergency Program Society]
* Port McNeill Search and Rescue
* [http://www.powellriversar.com/ Powell River Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.clanstewart.ca/~pgsar/PGSAR/Home.html Prince George Search and Rescue]
* Prince Rupert Search and Rescue
* Princeton Ground Search and Rescue
* Revelstoke Search and Rescue
* [http://www.rmsar.bc.ca/ Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue]
* Rossland Search and Rescue
* Saanich Search and Rescue
* Shuswap Search and Rescue
* South Peace Emergency Response Team
* [http://www.sparwoodsar.com/ Sparwood Search and Rescue]
* [http://squamishemergencyprogram.org/ Squamish Emergency Program]
* [http://www.skylark.ca/scsar.html Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue Society]
* [http://www.surreysearchandrescue.com/ Surrey Search and Rescue Society]
* Terrace Search and Rescue
* Tumbler Ridge Search and Rescue
* Valemount/McBride/Robson Valley Search and Rescue
* [http://www.vernonsar.ca/ Vernon Search and Rescue Group Society]
* [http://www.vicsar.ca/ Victoria Search and Rescue]
* [http://www.westcoastsar.org/ Westcoast Inland Search and Rescue]
* [http://whistlersar.blogspot.com/ Whistler Search and Rescue]

Provincial Emergency Program Air Search & Rescue

PEP Air's primary function is to assist Canadian Forces during search and rescue missions when additional resources are required. Currently, the organization includes over 100 aircraft crewed by more than 900 pilots, spotters and navigators.

BC Road Rescue Service

BC Road Rescue is an organized service with members who may be requested to provide support to people involved in out-of-jurisdiction motor vehicle accidents where specialized skills and equipment are required.

Emergency Radio Communications

During disasters and other serious emergency situations, when many other systems fail, a proven reliable means of communication has been emergency radio communications, notably “ Amateru Radio” or “ham” radio. Emergency radio is a public safety lifeline that assists within the community and links the community in crisis to where relief and support can be coordinated.

Volunteers' powers, privileges and recognition

* Volunteers are allowed to use the Disaster Response Route when on duty

* Under Section 27(1b) of the " [http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/E/96111_01.htm Emergency Program Act] ", a person commits an offense who interferes with or obstructs any person in the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty conferred or imposed by this Act or the regulations is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or to a fine of not more than $10 000 or to both imprisonment and fine.

* Civil Liability Exemption under Section 18 of the "Emergency Program Act"

* Workers' Compensation Board coverage

* The BC government maintains a comprehensive general liability insurance policy with a limit of $2 million covering all provincial volunteers

* "Good Samaritan Act" applies to all volunteers(unless grossly negligent)

* Trainings from the Provincial, Regional & Municipal Governments

* Special awards night every year

References

ee Also

*Emergency Social Services
*E-Comm

External Links

* [http://www.pep.bc.ca/ Provincial Emergency Program]
* [http://www.ess.bc.ca Emergency Social Services]
* [http://www.pep.gov.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/SAR_Information.html BC Provincial SAR]
* [http://www.pep.gov.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/PEPAir_Information.html PEPAIR]
* [http://www.pep.gov.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/RR_Information.html BC Road Rescue]
* [http://www.pep.gov.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/EmergComm_Information.html Emergency Radio Communications]
* [http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/E/96111_01.htm "Emergency Program Act"]