BC NDP MLAs Boultbee and Sandhu say funding will help equip the Okanagan for emergencies

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Summary

·        Local communities are receiving a total of $199,500 for emergency operations centres

·        The funding will support equipment and training for staff and volunteers to better respond to emergencies like wildfires

             

PENTICTON – BC New Democrat MLAs Amelia Boultbee and Harwinder Sandhu say the Okanagan will be better prepared for emergencies with provincial funding for emergency operations centres.

“It’s going to be a hot, dry, summer here in Penticton, Summerland, and all across B.C.,” said Amelia Boultbee, MLA for Penticton-Summerland. “Helping local communities make sure they have the equipment and training to respond to emergencies is one of the best things we can do to help make sure we’re ready to respond to any emergency that may come our way.”

In the Okanagan, the following First Nations and local governments will receive funding:

  • Penticton – Section training and functional exercise to build staff confidence and identify areas for improvement in EOC roles and procedures, $30,000
  • Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District – Regional audio/visual equipment, communications equipment, furniture to strengthen emergency management capacity across partner communities, $79,500
  • North Okanagan Regional District – Training and workstations to build EOC staff capability and infrastructure, $30,000
  • Splatsin First Nation – Training and tabletop exercises to build EOC staff knowledge and readiness, $30,000
  • Vernon – Training, tabletop exercise and full-scale exercise to build and test comprehensive EOC capability, $30,000

The Province is providing approximately $3.5 million for 110 projects to support local emergency operations centres through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).

Emergency operations centres (EOC) coordinate people, actions and resources, and support first responders on the ground. They also ensure people receive timely information, emergency support services and other vital assistance throughout an emergency.

“One of the best things we can do to set our communities up for success is making sure that local First Nations and municipalities have up-to-date technology and equipment ready to go if an emergency occurs,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Lumby. “I am very thankful to all the emergency personnel and first responders across BC who take the time to do Emergency Operations Centres training and help their communities when they most need it.”

Through this fund, since 2017, more than $25 million has supported more than 820 projects throughout the province. The Province has committed $369 million through all CEPF streams since it was established in 2017. To date, more than $350 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments for more than 2,800 CEPF projects throughout the province.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026EMCR0031-000853