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BC Government: Communities benefit from emergency operations centre funding

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

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect

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