First Nations and local governments throughout the province will have improved evacuation-route and public-notification plans through an investment of more than $1.3 million for 29 projects, better preparing people and communities for emergencies, including Cranbrook and Creston.

“When an emergency hits, every moment counts, and people need to know where to go and how they’ll be warned,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “This funding helps communities build clearer evacuation-route plans and stronger public-notification plans. It means people throughout B.C. will have improved access to the information they need to get to safety quickly.”

Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the province is providing funding to local governments and First Nations to develop and update evacuation-route plans and public-notification plans, and to test and verify these plans before disaster strikes.

“Emergency preparedness starts long before an evacuation order is issued,” said Cori Ramsay, president, Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM). “Keeping evacuation-route plans current and ensuring residents know where to find trusted information are essential parts of protecting communities. UBCM welcomes this investment and the collaborative approach behind it.”

The City of Cranbrook is getting $40,000 to prepare an evacuation-route plan and stakeholder engagement to ensure co-ordinated, accessible evacuations.

The Town of Creston is getting $40,000 for an evacuation-route plan to strengthen evacuation decision-making, and tabletop exercise to validate plan.

“The funding will be used to develop an evacuation-route plan, further strengthening the Town of Creston’s ability to respond to emergencies. The plan will help support a co-ordinated and effective response to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure, enhancing community resilience,” said Asha DeLisle, Creston’s emergency management and climate readiness co-ordinator.

The CEPF is a suite of funding programs that helps local governments and First Nations prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate. In addition to public notification and evacuation-route planning, it also funds emergency operations centres and emergency support services. This fund is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

This funding is part of B.C.’s continued commitment to strengthening climate readiness and keeping people safe as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.

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