The province said it has block-booked more than 1,000 hotel rooms in Penticton, Kelowna and West Kelowna for evacuees. The province said the BC Evacuee Helpline received a record number of calls from evacuees seeking assistance over the Aug. 8-9 weekend. Additional staff are helping evacuees with BC Services Card identity verification needed to register online for Emergency Support Services. The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness said 13 Emergency Support Services staff and volunteers have been deployed to assist evacuees and the local reception centre in Penticton. The ministry is also sending emergency management staff to Penticton to assist with Emergency Support Services, early recovery efforts and emergency operations.