Emergency Disaster Services Team Offers Support Amid Tragedy

In the aftermath of the April 26 attack at the Lapu-Lapu festival, which claimed 11 lives and injured many more, agencies across Vancouver, including The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team, mobilized to support survivors and their families.

EDS was placed on standby as soon as the incident occurred. In the days that followed, team members met with city officials and leaders from Vancouver’s Filipino community, who were deeply affected by the tragedy, to determine the best course of action for a response.

“There, the EDS team has been providing food, emotional and spiritual care.”

“We had a couple of meetings to decide on a location where people could come and get support. On May 1, Filipino BC opened the Resiliency Centre,” says Ian Pollard, divisional director of Emergency Disaster Services in British Columbia.

The centre was set up at Killarney Secondary School, located just minutes from the attack site. There, the EDS team has been providing food, emotional and spiritual care, and emergency support to survivors, witnesses and grieving families.

“People have been very grateful, but of course, it is still a very emotional time,” Ian says. “We have lots of emergencies in British Columbia, fires, floods and other search and rescue responses, but this is the first of its kind for the city of Vancouver.”

“We continue to pray for the survivors, their families, and all those impacted in the community.”

The EDS team will remain at the centre as long as the Filipino community needs them. Their response has been part of a coordinated effort alongside several local organizations.

“It has been very helpful to have not only our emotional and spiritual care teams there but also other organizations standing alongside us during this time,” Ian says.

Though the days have been difficult, the team remains committed.

“It is a very challenging time. We’re devastated and saddened by the attack, but we continue to pray for the survivors, their families, and all those impacted in the community.”

By Juan Romero