What is a Virtual Reception Centre?

A virtual reception centre is a remote facility that provides services to evacuees through call-centre capabilities. Supported by Emergency Support Services (ESS) volunteer responders, these virtual reception centres can provide the same services as physical reception centres, conducting the process remotely using the Province's Evacuee, Registration and Assistance (ERA) tool. This tool allows ESS responders to register evacuees and virtually provide basic and immediate needs, to contribute to the volume of impacted evacuees after an emergency. 

Saanich's Virtual Reception Centre

When volunteers are called on to respond, Saanich is keen to support our provincial neighbours. To do so, these volunteers utilize laptops, cell phones, headsets and the ERA tool to ensure evacuees can receive basic and immediate needs on what is likely their most difficult day. With our volunteers' empathetic approach, volunteers call evacuees directly to provide information, offer a listening ear and faciliate next steps.

The Saanich Emergency Program was an early adopter of modernized ESS technology and support delivery methods. Through ongoing training, exercising and local response, this team has contributed support to multiple provincial emergencies since 2021, supporting evacuees impacted by wildfires and floods.

2023 Southern Interior Wildfires

Following the Okanagan wildfires, 17 Saanich ESS volunteers deployed virtually to contact over 300 evacuees, facilitating supports through accomodation, clothing, food and incidentals, through traditional voucher referrals or the Province's new e-transfer functionality. 

Saanich remains committed to supporting our provincial neighbours and values the learning opportunities gained to help build local proficiencies, should disaster strike in our own community.