To date, the Province has block booked more than 1,000 hotel rooms in Penticton, Kelowna and West Kelowna, which are available for evacuees. Over the weekend of August 8-9, the BC Evacuee Helpline had a record number of calls from evacuees needing support. This includes staff to support with BC Services Card identity verification so that evacuees can register for Emergency Support Services (ESS) online. Thirteen emergency support services staff and volunteers have been deployed to provide support to the local reception center and evacuees in Penticton. The ministry also continues to send emergency management staff to Penticton to support local Emergency Support Services, as well as early recovery and emergency operations.