Headlines News Emergency & disaster management
More B.C. communities to benefit from emergency preparedness funding

Aug. 23, 2021, B.C. — Another 38 communities throughout B.C. have been awarded funding for flood planning through a program that has provided more than $75 million to First Nations and local governments for projects to better prepare for, mitigate and respond to emergencies.

The $77-million Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), administered through the Union of BC Municipalities, is a suite of programs designed to enhance the resiliency of First Nations communities, local governments and residents. The successful applicants for the latest round of funding have been provided $5.1 million to prevent, eliminate or reduce potential hazards through flood planning.

“This program is vital in helping communities prepare for local emergencies, such as floods and wildfires,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, in a press statement. “These funds have supported emergency operations centres, emergency support services, mitigation projects, response training and cultural humility training so that First Nations and local governments can better get ahead of what might come.”

Since September 2017, communities throughout B.C. have been able to apply for funding through this program for local priority projects that are designed to help mitigate and prepare for local emergencies. Since that time, 961 projects in communities throughout B.C. have been approved for funding, including:

• $7.8 million for Emergency Operations Centres
• $6.9 million for Emergency Support Services
• $2.5 million for Evacuation Route Planning
• $689 thousand for Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training
• $4.8 million for Volunteer and Composite Fire Department Training and Equipment
• $17 million for Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Mapping and Flood Mitigation Planning
• $35.7 million for Structural Flood Mitigation

“We’ve been working hard to help communities prepare for emergencies, and this program is a great way to support local emergency preparation priorities,” said Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness, in a press statement. “This is about continuing to collaborate with First Nations and local governments on emergency management and get to the root of what is needed to manage risks.”