The provincial government of British Columbia has announced that starting February 01, 2022, it will be expanding the Emergency Support Services being provided to residents affected by the flooding last fall.
According to an official release, the expanded emergency services will be provided to residents with the cooperation of the Canadian Red Cross. Through the Red Cross, both the federal and BC governments will offer “personalized recovery support,” which includes interim housing and basic needs assistance. This expanded assistance program builds upon the initial support provided to evacuees through Emergency Support Services since November 15, 2021.
These personalized supports will be funded by donations to the 2021 Canadian Red Cross British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather Appeal, the official release added.
"The recent floods in British Columbia have been devastating for individuals and communities throughout the province, and we know that there is a long road ahead to full recovery. That’s why our government is committing to provide timely, robust and effective supports for the people of British Columbia," said Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair.
Blair also said that the federal government is pleased to partner with the Canadian Red Cross to help those impacted by the flooding, and that his ministry will continue to work with the Committee of British Columbia and Federal Ministers on Disaster Response and Climate Resilience to support recovery efforts.
Both the federal government and the BC government have been matching donations to the Red Cross; the non-profit managed to raise a total of over $90 million thanks to funding from the governments and the public. As of January 17, 2022, the Red Cross has distributed over $17 million in evacuation-related emergency financial assistance to more than 7,200 eligible households.
The Canadian Red Cross is currently reaching out to people who are either receiving Emergency Support Services, or those who have indicated that they are interested in receiving support.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) had recently released a report that broke down the eye-opening $2.1 billion insured loss total for the year 2021. That report said that the November floods in BC caused $515 million in insured losses – making the weather event BC’s costliest to date.
