B.C. announces additional emergency preparedness funding

As climate change further intensifies weather events and wildfires, the B.C. government says it’s providing funding to communities to help them enhance emergency alerts and evacuation routes.

According to the province, 22 local governments in B.C. will receive “a total of $909,000 through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).” The money will go toward developing and updating plans and local emergency alerting systems.

“Recent emergencies, such as wildfires and landslides, highlight how important it is that people have the information they need to evacuate safely,” sasid Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma.

“By investing in community evacuation route and public notification planning, we’re helping ensure that local governments and First Nations have the tools they need to keep people safe during emergencies.”

Examples of projects the funding will help support include improving emergency communication in Tofino by expanding digital tools there, and “developing a robust hazard plan to support vulnerable populations in Nuxulk First Nation.”

The CEPF is administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities. According to the province, $369 million has been invested into the fund since it was created in 2017.

Money through the fund can also be used for emergency operations centres and training, disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation, and Indigenous cultural safety and cultural-humility training, the province explains.

Tish Mandewo, president of the UBCM, says local governments and First Nations have been looking for support to make necessary upgrades to evacuation routes and plans. She says the funding “will help to ensure that evacuation plans are up to date and clearly communicated to the public.”

“Supporting local governments to do this type of planning ahead of time will strengthen our ability to keep people safe when emergencies occur,” said Mandewo.