People in the Cowichan Valley will be safer during emergencies, thanks to provincial funding for Emergency Operation Centres

LADYSMITH – BC NDP MLA Doug Routley says people in the Cowichan Valley will be safer during emergencies, with provincial funding that will better equip their local Emergency Operations Centres.

“Having effective and efficient Emergency Operations Centres truly makes a world of difference when we need it,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “We’re helping fund and support our local EOC so people have somewhere to turn during difficult times.”

The Cowichan Valley Regional District received $150,000 for their 2024 Emergency Operations Centre project, working with regional partners Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, and North Cowichan.

Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the province is providing $1.4 million to 29 local governments and First Nations for emergency preparedness, including new supplies for local Emergency Operations Centres and training exercises to support staff and increase efficiency.

The province has invested $369 million into the CEPF since it was established in 2017. More than $224 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments through the CEPF for more than 2,000 projects. More than half of this funding has gone to communities since December 2022, demonstrating the province’s commitment to ramping up defences against climate emergencies throughout B.C. Approximately $16.3 million has been invested to support local Emergency Operations Centres.

Learn more: https://news.gov.bc.ca/31310