Both the federal and provincial government of British Columbia have provided funding to support 30 flood mitigation projects in the region.
Approximately $10.7 million was given to fund the projects under the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP). In addition, some municipalities and non-government organizations partnered with BC to provide an extra $1.4 million in funding.
“With the 2017 floods still fresh in our minds, we are pleased to greenlight funding for projects that will help communities identify and mitigate flood risks,” commented the Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for British Columbia. “The B.C. government is committed to working collaboratively with the Federal and local governments to improve public safety and emergency preparedness for all British Columbians.”
A release revealed the breakdown of the funding. Of the 30 projects:
- Sixteen will provide funding for the completion of risk assessments to inform flood risks for a total of $4.95 million;
- Four will help communities identify specific impacts of a flood event on structures and people through the development of flood maps for a total of $3.07 million;
- Three will help communities plan to mitigate against future flooding events for a total of $952,000; and,
- Seven will fund small-scale structural mitigation projects for a total of $3.15 million.
“Weather-related natural disasters are getting more severe, more frequent, more damaging and more expensive,” said Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “This is a threat not only to the safety of our communities, but to our economic stability. The Government of Canada is determined to reduce these risks in partnership with provinces and territories. The projects announced today will help British Columbia better prepare for and respond to flood risks, increasing their overall disaster resiliency.”
“This funding will help protect communities across British Columbia from flooding, and mitigate potential impacts that could result from emergencies,” added the Honourable Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Vancouver South. “Collaboration across all levels of government is imperative to ensure that Canada is properly prepared in the case of an emergency.”
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