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The Gold Valley Main wildfire burns near Zeballos on Aug. 20, 2018. File photo.
B.C. is awarding more funds as communities around the province prepare for flood and wildfire seasons.
A news release from the Ministry of Public Safety says 63 local and regional governments and First Nations communities will receive their share of $1.5 million specifically to maintain or improve their emergency operations centres (EOC).
The province says the money can also be used for training or exercises to improve operations centre responses.
On Vancouver Island, communities that had proposals approved for funding include:
- Comox Valley Regional District – Comox Valley Emergency Program – portable EOC generator, $25,000
- Esquimalt/Victoria – Victoria Police Department joint exercise, $50,000
- Gold River – Emergency radio communications enhancement, $23,280
- Kyuquot First Nation – Kyuquot and Walter’s Cover radio communications capacity enhancement, $24,935
- Metchosin – Upgrade to EOC supplies and equipment, $25,000
- Saanich – Equipment and furnishings, $25,000
- Sayward – Evacuation training and radio communications enhancement, $24,440
- Sooke – Training, supplies and equipment upgrades, $25,000
- Strathcona Regional District – SRD’s communications enhancement for EOCs, group lodging facilities and emergency public messaging, $24, 475
- Tofino – Communications, training and equipment, $25,000
- Ucluelet – Emergency management program EOC development project, $25,000
- Zeballos – emergency management program EOC development project, $25,000
The ministry says more than $20-million has been handed out since 2017 through the Community Emergency Preparedness fund.
The Canadian Press
