Emergency Management - BC Housing's role in a disaster or emergency

BC Housing provides BC communities impacted by a disaster or emergency with emergency lodging supplies and post-disaster building assessment supports.

Responding to a disaster

BC Housing has three key functions during an emergency response and recovery: 

  • Emergency Support Service (ESS)  
  • Post-Disaster Building Assessments (PDBA)  
  • Recovery 

Emergency Support Service (ESS)

  • Supports Emergency Management BC (EMBC) by managing distribution of BC Housing’s Emergency Lodging Stockpile of cots and blankets when a local authority, or Indigenous community, sets up a group lodging facility
  • Supports the ESS/Humanitarian Assistance Branch at the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC)  
    • Provides shelter support by coordinating and shipping the provincial emergency lodging stockpile 

Post-Disaster Building Assessments (PDBA)

  • Building capacity for both the public and private sector by offering training in: 
    • Rapid Damage Assessment (RDA)  
    • Coordination of Damage Assessment (CDA) 
  • Leads the Building Damage Assessment Branch at: 
    • Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC)  
    • Catastrophic Earthquake Response and Recovery Centre (CERRC) 
  • Organizes provincial damage assessment support for local authorities or Indigenous communities when needed 

Recovery

  • Works with Indigenous communities, local authorities, and partners to develop long-term housing solutions 

Learn more about our Emergency Support to Communities