MOBERLY LAKE -- New funding will be provided to help make communities safer during climate-related emergencies.
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness making the announcement Tuesday that 22 B.C. communities will receive funds totaling $909,000 to strengthen emergency evacuation routes and public-notification planning.
“As we face more severe weather events due to climate change, the safety of people remains the top priority,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
In Moberly Lake, a funding amount of $90,000 will be directed to the Saulteau First Nation for regional public notification and evacuation route planning.
An emergency management consultant will be hired to focus on improving public safety during emergencies for the Saulteau and it’s regional partners Chetwynd and West Moberly First Nation.
“By investing in community evacuation route and public notification planning, we’re helping ensure that local governments and first nations have the tools they need to keep people safe during emergencies,” said Ma.
The funding is being provided through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund that is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities on behalf of the Province.
Since being established in 2017, just shy of 370 million has been invested into the fund with more than half given to first nations and local governments to support planning projects across B.C., including emergency operations centres.
“Local governments and First Nations have been looking for support to update evacuation route plans, and funding like this will help to ensure that evacuation plans are up to date and clearly communicated to the public,” says Trish Mandewo, President, Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
