Press Release
July 7, 2022
VICTORIA – Eighty-four First Nations and local governments will receive provincial emergency-preparedness funding to help improve emergency operations centres (EOCs) and better equip them to respond to emergencies affecting the people in their communities.
With this $3.2 million in Community Emergency Preparedness funding, communities will be able to build or upgrade EOCs, purchase equipment, and enhance capacity through volunteer recruitment, retention and training. The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is administered through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and supports programs that strengthen the resilience of First Nations communities, local governments and residents.
“Every community has different needs and challenges when it comes to disaster preparedness,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “That’s why the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a great way for us to help First Nations and local authorities – because they know what projects and initiatives will best help them improve their emergency preparedness and response.”
The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a suite of funding streams intended to enhance community resilience. Throughout the year, First Nations and local governments will have the opportunity to submit applications for other streams, including public notification and evacuation planning, and Indigenous cultural safety training and cultural humility training.
“Emergency operations centres are an essential part of emergency response, where representatives come together to co-ordinate actions and resources, and to support people responding on the ground,” said Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness. “We’re excited that, through this round of funding, even more First Nations and local governments will upgrade their EOCs, increasing their community resiliency and ability to react quickly when an emergency happens.”
Budget 2022 provides $2.1 billion to support communities to build back better from recent disasters, and to strengthen defences to make sure people and communities across B.C. are protected from disasters. From this funding, a historic investment of $110 million, in addition to previous contributions, is going to the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, for a total of $189 million.
“We at the Town of Smithers are grateful for the financial support provided by the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund managed by UBCM,” said Gladys Atrill, mayor of Smithers. “It enables us to work in partnership with our neighbour, the Village of Telkwa, to ensure we are better prepared together in the event of an emergency. Our EOC is a priority, and this important grant funding has supported staff training and the acquisition of critical equipment to support weather monitoring and communications, including backup systems and laptop computers.”
Since 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 disasters and climate-related emergencies.
Learn More:
For more information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit the UBCM website: https://www.ubcm.ca/funding-programs/local-government-program-services/community-emergency-preparedness-fund
A backgrounder follows.
Contact:
Emergency Management BC
Media Relations
250 880-6430
BACKGROUNDER
Community Emergency Preparedness Fund
Local governments and First Nations across British Columbia will receive $3,205,823.95 in provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Funds as follows.
Adams Lake Indian Band – EOC capacity-building initiative
Total approved funding: $24,902.32
Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, Tofino, Ucluelet, regional – bolstering Alberni-Clayquot EOCs through regional readiness
Total approved funding: $65,115
Ashcroft Indian Band – EOC project
Total approved funding: $23,500
Bowen Island Municipality – EOC capacity-building 2.0
Total approved funding: $25,000
Bulkley-Nechako Regional District – EOC equipment and exercise program development
Total approved funding: $24,855
Capital Regional District – EOC upgrade
Total approved funding: $24,665
Cariboo Regional District – EOC training and equipment upgrades
Total approved funding: $10,663.29
Central Kootenay Regional District – EOC equipment
Total approved funding: $25,000
Central Okanagan Regional District – large-format printer and equipment
Total approved funding: $24,959
Central Saanich – training and equipment upgrade
Total approved funding: $25,000
Comox Valley Regional District – Hosting with Humility: adapting the EOC structure to expand host community capacity
Total approved funding: $24,700
Cowichan Tribes – Strengthening Cowichan Tribes’ EOC capacity
Total approved funding: $25,000
Cowichan Valley Regional District, Lake Cowichan, Duncan, Ladysmith, North Cowichan – EOC mobile project
Total approved funding: $125,000
Dawson Creek – building emergency response capacity
Total approved funding: $14,589.60
Daylu Dena Council – EOC VHF communications project
Total approved funding: $25,000
Ditidaht First Nation – EOC set-up
Total approved funding: $25,000
Doig River First Nation – EOC equipment and training
Total approved funding: $25,000
Esquimalt – EOC IT equipment
Total approved funding: $22,490
Fraser Lake – equipment upgrade
Total approved funding: $14,885.80
Fraser Valley Regional District – disaster and emergency dashboard
Total approved funding: $25,000
Fraser-Fort George Regional District – communications and training improvements
Total approved funding: $25,000
Gitanyow Band – EOC communications
Total approved funding: $10,581
Granisle – improved EOC capacity through situational response training
Total approved funding: $25,000
Heiltsuk Nation – Taking Care of Our Community
Total approved funding: $25,000
Highlands – East Fire Hall back-up generator
Total approved funding: $25,000
Hope – emergency power supply
Total approved funding: $25,000
Hupačasath First Nation – emergency-preparedness generator
Total approved funding: $25,000
K’ómoks First Nation – KFN EOC trailer and training
Total approved funding: $24,327.19
Kent – EOC technology upgrades
Total approved funding: $25,000
Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation – EOC capacity enhancement
Total approved funding: $17,288
Kootenay-Boundary Regional District – emergency operations and training
Total approved funding: $20,910
Kwakiutl Band Council – EOC development
Total approved funding: $25,000
Kwantlen First Nation – KFN EOC training development
Total approved funding: $25,000
Langford – establish dedicated EOC room
Total approved funding: $20,950
Lillooet – EOC capacity-building
Total approved funding: $25,000
Mackenzie – EOC communications upgrades
Total approved funding: $25,000
McBride – EOC equipment and training
Total approved funding: $12,263
Merritt – EOC 2022
Total approved funding: $24,959.01
Metchosin – EOC support
Total approved funding: $25,000
Midway – 2022 EOC project
Total approved funding: $24,860
Mount Waddington Regional District – EOC equipment and supply upgrade
Total approved funding: $25,000
Nelson – EOC enhancement (continued)
Total approved funding: $25,000
North Okanagan Regional District – EOC emergency power generator
Total approved funding: $25,000
North Saanich – EOC staff training
Total approved funding: $24,038
Nuxalk First Nation – EOC generator
Total approved funding: $25,000
Okanagan Indian Band – EOC improvements
Total approved funding: $24,984.40
Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, Summerland, Keremeos, Oliver, regional – 2022 joint EOC training and technology
Total approved funding: $99,130
Osoyoos – EOC computer network upgrade
Total approved funding: $25,000
Pauquachin First Nation, Tseycum First Nation, Tsawout First Nation, Tsartlip First Nation, regional – EOC staff training and equipment
Total approved funding: $97,400
Peace River Regional District – West Peace EOC upgrade
Total approved funding: $25,000
Pemberton – EOC IT and equipment upgrade
Total approved funding: $18,000
Penticton – staff training
Total approved funding: $25,000
Penticton Indian Band – EOC improvement
Total approved funding: $25,000
Pitt Meadows – EOC workstation chairs
Total approved funding: $25,000
Port Moody – Capstone of Learning project
Total approved funding: $23,802
Pouce Coupe – radios for EOC
Total approved funding: $24,840
Princeton – generator back-up power for EOC
Total approved funding: $25,000
qathet Regional District (Powell River) – EOC training exercises (July 2022-May 2023)
Total approved funding: $25,000
Qualicum Beach – Civic Centre emergency generator
Total approved funding: $25,000
Revelstoke – EOC communications and training
Total approved funding: $25,000
Saulteau First Nations – EOC set-up and public emergency communications
Total approved funding: $24,758.13
Sidney – EOC training and exercise
Total approved funding: $18,788
Simpcw First Nation – EOC virtually
Total approved funding: $25,000
Skuppah Indian Band – emergency preparation, capacity building and training
Total approved funding: $24,640
Smithers, Telkwa, regional – resiliency and mobile operations
Total approved funding: $50,000
Spuzzum First Nation – EOC development
Total approved funding: $25,000
Squamish – Squamish EOC
Total approved funding: $24,321
Squamish Nation – EOC communications enhancement
Total approved funding: $18,210.28
Stewart – EOC preparedness 2022
Total approved funding: $18,000
Strathcona Regional District, Campbell River, Ehattesaht First Nation, Nuchatlaht First Nation,
Gold River, Sayward, Tahsis, Zeballos, regional – public warning capacity enhancement
Total approved funding: $180,200
Stz’uminus First Nation – EOC capacity development
Total approved funding: $25,000
Sunshine Coast Regional District – EOC communication modernization
Total approved funding: $25,000
Surrey – emergency public notifications and city staff training
Total approved funding: $23,595.49
Tk’emlups te Secwepemc – EOC training and equipment
Total approved funding: $24,130.91
Tla’amin Nation – emergency services radio network
Total approved funding: $25,000
Tsawwassen First Nation – EOC training 2022
Total approved funding: $9,720
Tumbler Ridge – EOC IT enhancements
Total approved funding: $25,000
Vanderhoof – EMP EOC development
Total approved funding: $25,000
Vernon – 2022 EOC training and equipment
Total approved funding: $25,000
Victoria – smoke and heat readiness
Total approved funding: $12,800
View Royal – equipment and installation, supplies and training
Total approved funding: $25,000
We Wai Kai Nation – EOC development
Total approved funding: $25,000
West Moberly First Nations – WMFN EOC communications
Total approved funding: $25,000
Whistler – EOC training and exercise 2022
Total approved funding: $25,000
Wuikinuxv Nation – EOC improvements
Total approved funding: $25,000
Contact:
Emergency Management BC
Media Relations
250 880-6430
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