The BC government is investing more than $3-million to boost emergency preparedness for more than 100 local governments and First Nations, and some local initiatives are getting a funding boost.
The Regional District of East Kootenay gets $119,000 to support its emergency operations centre readiness project with regional partners in Cranbrook, Fernie and Invermere.
Also, the District of Elkford gets $30,000 to establish a dedicated emergency operations centre and communications upgrades.
This round of funding is through the Province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund.
Find more information from the BC government below:
More than 100 local governments and First Nations will benefit from provincial funding to support and enhance the work of local emergency operations centres.
“We know significant costs are associated with emergency planning, mitigation, response and recovery for communities – including at local emergency operations centres. Emergency operations centres are the hub of response and recovery during an emergency, staffed by our hard-working partners in local governments and First Nations,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “These projects made possible through our Community Emergency Preparedness Fund will help better protect and keep people safe in the event of an emergency.”
Nearly $3 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) will go to local governments and First Nations throughout B.C. and will assist in purchasing and installing equipment and supplies to maintain or improve emergency operations centres as well as training and exercises to increase capacity.
“For a small district, like Metchosin, that relies heavily on volunteers, community emergency preparedness funding is critical to the strength and fortitude of our emergency operations,” said Marie-Térèse Little, mayor, District of Metchosin. “The supplies purchased through CEPF will make significant improvements to our community resiliency, further support volunteer efforts and training, and promote a safer response for all involved.”
Emergency operations centres are an essential part of emergency response, where representatives come together to co-ordinate actions and resources, and support people responding on the ground.
“Funding for emergency preparedness is a wise investment that directly benefits our community. It enables us to develop robust emergency response plans, acquire essential resources, and enhance our readiness to handle a wide range of emergencies,” said Trent Bossence, fire chief and emergency program co-ordinator with the District of Kitimat. “With this funding, we can strengthen our community’s capacity to protect lives, minimize damage and recover swiftly, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for all.”
Funding will go to 78 projects benefiting more than 100 communities throughout B.C., such as:
* monitors, digital displays and other equipment to improve the quality of operations for the City of Kitimat emergency operations centre;
* comprehensive training program for Leq’á:mel First Nation emergency management team volunteers;
* upgrading computers, a new information officer and liaison officer kit, including a one-day tabletop training session at the Doig River First Nation;
* storage area (trailer or container) with shelving for emergency equipment and upgrades to technology, such as laptops, portable antennae, hand-held GPS and mapping capabilities for the District of Metchosin;
* developing an emergency operations centre geographic information system (GIS) for situational awareness, emergency operations and public information for the City of Nelson;
* new equipment, supplies and training for a new and permanent emergency operations centre in Armstrong; and
* emergency equipment and supplies, as well as equipment training to support emergency operations centre activities for the Samahquam Nation.
“The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund has enabled the City of Armstrong to enhance its emergency preparedness, response and ability to recover by enabling us to build capacity through the purchasing of equipment and by providing training opportunities,” said Joe Cramer, mayor, Armstrong. “The contribution of $30,000 will make a significant impact on our community for years to come.”
In February 2023, the Province committed a further $180 million to CEPF, bringing the total investment to $369 million since it was established in 2017. Approximately $116 million through CEPF has been approved for First Nations and local governments for almost 1,500 projects that help communities mitigate and prepare for disasters and climate-related emergencies.
The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and supports projects that strengthen the resilience of local governments and First Nations in responding to and preparing for natural disasters and climate change.
Local governments and First Nations throughout British Columbia will receive nearly $3 million through CEPF for emergency operations centres (EOCs) as follows.
Abbotsford: Modernization and mobility
Total approved funding: $29,598
Adams Lake Indian Band: Emergency operations upgrades and training
Total approved funding: $30,000
Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District:
Regional: Improving regional EOC capacity
Regional partner: Port Alberni
Total approved funding: $60,000
Anmore: EOC
Total approved funding: $30,000
Armstrong: EOC equipment foundations and training
Total approved funding: $30,000
Barriere: EOC enhancement project
Total approved funding: $30,000
Bowen Island: EOC training blitz 2023
Total approved funding: $30,000
Bulkley-Nechako Regional District: Crisis communications workshop, EOC discussion-based exercise and equipment
Total approved funding: $29,902.22
Capital Regional District: Department operations centre/EOC capacity development
Total approved funding: $30,000
Cariboo Regional District: EOC mobilization equipment and training
Total approved funding: $7,280.05
Castlegar: EOC essentials training
Total approved funding: $6,774
Central Kootenay Regional District: EOC alternate site
Total approved funding: $30,000
Central Okanagan Regional District: EOC and training 2023
Total approved funding: $28,090
Chilliwack: EOC technology upgrades
Total approved funding: $29,400
Clearwater: North Thompson area winter exercise and training
Total approved funding: $29,950
Columbia Shuswap Regional District: Testing communications
Total approved funding: $29,980
Colwood: EOC training and exercise
Total approved funding: $18,358.50
Comox Valley Regional District:
Regional: Hosting with humility: Reciprocity in action
Regional partners: Comox, Cumberland, Courtenay and K’ómoks First Nation
Total approved funding: $150,000
Cowichan Tribes: 2023 EOC
Total approved funding: $30,000
Cowichan Valley Regional District:
Regional: 2023 EOC project
Regional partners: Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan and North Cowichan
Total approved funding: $150,000
Delta: EOC position-based training and exercises
Total approved funding: $27,440
Doig River First Nation: Program EOC training and equipment project
Total approved funding: $30,000
East Kootenay Regional District:
Regional: EOC readiness project
Regional partners: Cranbrook, Fernie and Invermere
Total approved funding: $119,990.25
Elkford: Establish dedicated EOC and communications upgrade
Total approved funding: $30,000
Fort St. James: Community centre portable generator
Total approved funding: $30,000
Fraser Valley Regional District: EOC and training information officer capability
Total approved funding: $30,000
Fraser-Fort George Regional District: EOC communications and training improvements
Total approved funding: $30,000
Harrison Hot Springs: EOC technology upgrades
Total approved funding: $29,585
Homalco First Nation: EOC supplies and equipment
Total approved funding: $28,682
Houston: EOC training and equipment
Total approved funding: $30,000
Kamloops: 2023 EOC training, supplies and modernization
Total approved funding: $30,000
Kent: Training and equipment
Total approved funding: $29,371.50
Kitimat: Emergency operations equipment modernization
Total approved funding: $26,299.11
Langley City: EOC preparedness project
Total approved funding: $30,000
Leq’á:mel First Nation: EOC Centre training for staff, chief and council policy group workshop
Total approved funding: $30,000
Lhtako Dené Nation: EOC communication centre
Total approved funding: $29,995.40
Lower Nicola Indian Band: EOC program support 2023
Total approved funding: $30,000
Masset: EOC development project
Total approved funding: $29,772.35
Metchosin: Portable EOC and storage
Total approved funding: $30,000
Metro Vancouver: Dynamic EOC and deployable technical solutions
Total approved funding: $29,329.98
Midway: Technology update
Total approved funding: $19,310
Mission: EOC training project
Total approved funding: $29,837.05
Nelson: EOC enhancement project (continued)
Total approved funding: $30,000
North Okanagan Regional District: EOC and training 2023
Total approved funding: $30,000
North Vancouver District:
Regional: EOC and department operations centre interoperability enhancement
Regional partners: North Vancouver City and West Vancouver
Total approved funding: $73,681.36
Northern Rockies Regional Municipality: EOC capacity building and training
Total approved funding: $29,900
Old Masset Village Council: EOC kit purchase
Total approved funding: $26,982.32
Oliver: Enhancing Oliver’s internal emergency response capacity
Total approved funding: $22,000
Parksville:
Regional: 2023 EOC training program – Wind causing significant power outages
Regional partner: Qualicum Beach
Total approved funding: $34,040
Pemberton: EOC equipment and flood evacuation exercise
Total approved funding: $17,600
Penticton: EOC 2023
Total approved funding: $29,200
Pitt Meadows: EOC
Total approved funding: $30,000
Port Coquitlam: EOC situational awareness enhancements and staff training
Total approved funding: $30,000
Port Moody: 2023 bolstering EOC and Emergency Support Services operational readiness
Total approved funding: $30,000
Prince George: EOC training/exercises; equipment modernization and EOC process improvement
Total approved funding: $25,000
Prince Rupert: Radio system reliability upgrades
Total approved funding: $30,000
qathet Regional District: Regional EOC training
Total approved funding: $30,000
Saanich: Audio-visual enhancements
Total approved funding: $30,000
Samahquam Nation: EOC supplies and equipment
Total approved funding: $29,551
Seabird Island: Training and equipment
Total approved funding: $30,000
Semá:th First Nation: Preparedness and response project
Total approved funding: $27,335.16
Simpcw First Nation: North Thompson area winter exercise and training
Total approved funding: $30,000
Skawahlook First Nation: Sq’ewa:lxw EOC supplies and equipment
Total approved funding: $27,151
Skeetchestn Indian Band: Mobile EOC kits
Total approved funding: $30,000
Smithers: Regional: 2023 EOC display security project
Regional partner: Telkwa
Total approved funding: $59,927.35
Squamish: Interoperability and communications
Total approved funding: $30,000
Squamish Nation: EOC upgrade and training
Total approved funding: $30,000
Squamish-Lillooet Regional District: 2023 atmospheric river EOC exercise
Total approved funding: $30,000
Strathcona Regional District:
Regional: EOC
Regional partners: Campbell River, Gold River, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, Mount Waddington Regional District, Nuchatlaht First Nation, Port Alice, Sayward, Tahsis, We Wai Kai Nation and Zeballos
Total approved funding: $329,200
Sun Peaks: Virtual EOC development, training and EOC laptops
Total approved funding: $30,000
T’it’q’et: EOC
Total approved funding: $29,824.61
Taylor: EOC equipment and training
Total approved funding: $8,800
Thompson-Nicola Regional District: Enhancement project
Total approved funding: $30,000
Tofino: EOC enhancement, training and equipment
Total approved funding: $30,000
Uchucklesaht Tribe: EOC capability development
Total approved funding: $30,000
Vancouver: EOC training
Total approved funding: $19,000
Vanderhoof: EOC training and development 2023
Total approved funding: $29,995.79
Xwisten: EOC kits
Total approved funding: $26,602.28
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