Wildfire season is just around the corner and Prince George will receive government funding for emergency preparedness training and emergency operation centres.
A total of 63 local, as well as regional governments and First Nations communities, have been approved to receive their share of $1.5 million from the B.C. government to support emergency operation centres (EOCs) and related emergency training.
Now, 57 of those applications in 63 communities are getting targeted funding which is designated specifically for equipment and supplies with will maintain or improve EOCs and to enhance EOC capacity through training and exercises.
Prince George is receiving $25,000 for a rehearsal of concept drill and EOC redundancy project.
"When an emergency situation happens, it's crucial that communities have the training and resources they require to respond to the emergency quickly and efficiently," Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General says. "This investment will increase capacity and provide training for emergency operations centres throughout B.C. so that people on the ground have the tools they need to keep their loved ones and other people safe."
Funding for EOC and training component of the CEPF were announced at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention back in September 2017.
This funding is part of a $33.5 million plan to help communities prepare for, and respond to, disasters.
"Having the right tools is key when it comes to responding to and recovering from any type of disaster," Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness adds in the release. "Providing funding like this increases the capacity of our communities to respond in the event of an emergency and improves resiliency when it comes time to recover and rebuild."
The CEPF is a suite of programs designed to enhance the resiliency of local governments and their residents.
The province provides the funding, which is administered by UBCM and divided into five streams:
- Flood risk assessment, flood mapping, and flood mitigation planning
- Emergency social services
- Emergency operations centres and training
- Structural flood mitigation
- Evacuation routes
The next deadline to apply for this program is Oct. 25, 2019, for structural flood mitigation second intake.
