DELTA – BC NDP MLA Kahlon says provincial funding for local evacuation planning projects means Delta will be better able to keep people safe and informed when emergencies occur.

“When an emergency happens, it’s crucial that the entire community is informed and knows how to stay safe,” says Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North. “This funding will help ensure we’re prepared when it matters most.”

In Delta, the following First Nations and local governments are receiving funding:

• Delta – Create a public notification strategy, establish multi-channel alerts, partner with neighbouring First Nations and run a readiness exercise, $40,000
• Tsawwassen First Nation – Develop new evacuation route and public notification plans, collaborating with neighbouring jurisdictions and revising relevant local plans and policies, $40,000

Across B.C., 51 communities are receiving approximately $2 million for 42 projects. This funding will support communities to develop and update their plans through public notification and evacuation route planning projects. Projects include mapping routes, improving evacuation and public notification plans, and running training exercises to test these plans before an emergency occurs.

Since its launch in 2017, the Province has invested $369 million in the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). Including this intake, the CEPF has supported approximately 2,600 projects.

Since 2017, the Province has provided more than $6 million to support 183 projects through the public notification and evacuation route planning stream.