Indigenous Services Canada works in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS), and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to support First Nations through emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery in the event of a wildfire, drought or flood. In the event of an emergency this summer, the partners above will work in collaboration to ensure that First Nations in BC have the support needed.

Please see the attached Response Pathways document to learn how the partners are working together in emergency management situations.

Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness

For emergency response support due to a wildfire, spring freshet, flooding or other emergency event, your first point of contact is EMCR at 1-800-663-3456. This connects to EMCR’s 24/7 Emergency Coordination Centre. You can also contact your regional EMCR office for information and updates on emergency events including evacuation alerts and orders.

During evacuations, community members are supported through the provincial Emergency Support Services (ESS) program. ESS provides short-term basic support to people impacted by disasters.

Indigenous Services Canada

For information regarding ISCs’ emergency management programs or funding supports, please contact the regional Emergency Management team at bcaandc.do@sac-isc.gc.ca or call 1-604-209-9709.

For information regarding ISC’s community infrastructure programs and funding supports, to prepare your community’s water infrastructure for drought, please contact your Community Management Officer (CMO) or ISC’s Capital inbox at projetsdimmobilisationscb-capitalprojectsbc@sac-isc.gc.ca.

First Nations’ Emergency Services Society

FNESS is available to support community emergency preparedness and response, and can be contacted at 1-888-388-4431 or 250-377-7600.

First Nations Health Authority

For information regarding FNHA programs and supports related to Health Emergency Management (HEM), please visit the FNHA website.

BC’s Wildfire Service

Report wildfire sightings or the presence of smoke to BC’s Wildfire Management Branch at 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular phones.

For current information on fire danger ratings, regional fire prohibitions and wildfire activity call 1-888-336-7378 (3FOREST).

9-1-1

If anyone in your community injured or experiencing a life threatening incident, you should immediately call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.