VICTORIA, B.C. – B.C. has released $2 million in emergency preparedness funding to communities throughout the province.
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is one of the recipients, receiving $24, 800. The funding will help create a regional cache of supplies, with various locations across the SRD. The different locations will help improve the speed and efficiency that emergency social services are delivered.
The emergency social services funding is part of a $33.5 million plan to designed to help communities plan for and respond to disasters.
“Emergency social services represent a lifeline for individuals and families who have been evacuated and need help,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Intake 2 of emergency social services funding under the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) closed on Oct. 5, 2018. Twenty-five applications have been approved for Emergency Social Services training, volunteer recruitment and retention, and equipment purchase. Another 10 applications are under review.
The CEPF is a suite of programs designed to prepare local governments and their residents. The provincial government provides the funding, and is distributed by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and divided into five streams:
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Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Mapping and Flood Mitigation Planning
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Emergency Social Services
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Emergency Operations Centres & Training
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Structural Flood Mitigation
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Evacuation Routes
The next deadlines to apply for the CEPF program are:
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Feb. 1, 2019: Emergency Operations Centres and Training Intake 2
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Feb. 22, 2019: Flood Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Mitigation Intake 2
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Oct. 25, 2019: Structural Flood Mitigation Intake 2
