More Funding for Emergency Preparedness for Haida Gwaii and Northwest BC

The province of British Columbia has outlined the scope for another 3.46 million dollars in provincial funding towards emergency preparedness, which will see a number of communities on Haida Gwaii and in the Northwest share in close to 800,000 dollars funding for projects.

The main focus for today's funding which comes through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund will help communities prepare for emergencies through work on flood risk assessment, flood mapping and flood mitigation planning.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparation made note of how the funding will help to build a foundation towards improve responses and outcomes towards emergencies.

“Preparation and mitigation are two critical pillars of emergency management,. Knowing which hazards exist and how to address them is a cornerstone of preparedness. 

I’m proud of our government for providing the necessary tools before a disaster hits to lay a strong foundation for improved response and recovery outcomes in our communities.

 I’m also encouraged to see co-operative projects between communities like Haida Gwaii and northwest Vancouver Island around regional tsunami mapping. 

With climate change increasing extreme weather events, it’s more important than ever that communities have the knowledge and resources they need to stay safe.

This funding will help ensure people and properties on Haida Gwaii can be better protected from flooding emergencies.”

For Haida Gwaii the funding will be directed to a number of Projects.

Masset – Masset flood risk assessment and mapping Total approved funding: $121,358

Port Clements – flood risk assessment and mapping Total approved funding: $88,509

Queen Charlotte – Village of Queen Charlotte flood risk and mapping Total approved funding: $142,113

North Coast Regional District – Tlell and Sandspit flood risk assessment and mapping Total approved funding: $148,019

Two other communities in the Northwest have benefited from today's funding announcement was Kitimat, which will receive $150,000 towards a mapping study for the Kitimat River.

Hazelton will embark on a flood risk assessment, flood mapping and flood mitigation plan. With total approved funding set at $150,000.

The full roll out of today's program can be reviewed here.

For more notes related to the Provincial government see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.