BC NDP MLA Josie Osborne funding will strengthen emergency support services in the mid island

PORT ALBERNI – BC NDP MLA Josie Osborne says communities across the mid island are receiving funding that will help to better support people who need to evacuate from their homes during emergencies.

“Emergency support services play a vital role in community emergency response, providing immediate relief for people impacted by a disaster or emergency,” says Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island – Pacific Rim. “This investment goes directly to supports like ESS training, exercise development, reception centres, group lodgings, and personal protective equipment. We’re making sure no community is left unprotected, and every volunteer gets the support they need.”

The following local communities are receiving funding:

• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District- group lodging equipment, volunteer personal protective equipment and storage,
  • Sub-applicants: Port Alberni, Ucluelet.
  • Approved amount: $113,300
• Comox Valley Regional District – Multi-jurisdictional ESS training and exercise development, reception centre equipment and storage.
  • Sub applicants: Courtney, K’omoks First Nation, Comox, Cumberland.
  • Approved amount: $100,000
• Huu-ay-aht First Nations – Training, exercises, reception centre and group lodging equipment.
• Toquaht Nation – Group lodging equipment and training.
• Tseshaht First Nation – ESS equipment and training.
• Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet) – ESS evacuation support trailer equipment.

The BC New Democrat government is providing over $5 million for 113 local projects. The funding will help communities expand their capacity to provide emergency support services through volunteer recruitment and retention, volunteer training, and the purchase of equipment.

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a suite of funding programs designed to help local governments and First Nations better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate. These programs include public notification and evacuation-route planning, emergency operations centre equipment and training, volunteer and composite fire department equipment and training, and Indigenous cultural safety and humility training.

Since its establishment in 2017, the Province has committed $369 million into CEPF. To date, approximately $315 million has been provided for approximately 2,400 projects across all CEPF streams. This fund is administered through the Union of BC Municipalities.