VERNON– New Democrat MLA Harwinder Sandhu says people in Vernon will be better protected during flooding and extreme weather emergencies, thanks to provincial climate adaptation funding for local projects.

“Although we enjoy so many benefits from living so close to the water, Vernon is vulnerable to flooding and other extreme weather events,” says Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee. “The funding our government is providing to the City for improving the naturalization of Polson Park will enhance our resilience to floods, protecting people and homes.”

Vernon is receiving $2.52-million to remove 4 bridges that present a flood risk in Polson Park and replace them with a modern bridge.

Across B.C. more than 50 local governments and First Nations are receiving a share of $39 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF). Projects include small-scale structural flood projects and improvements to local flood-mitigation strategies, including more accurate flood mapping.

While taking immediate steps to support communities and to keep people safe, the New Democrat government is also launching a new comprehensive B.C. Flood Strategy that will guide flood preparedness and mitigation work by all orders of government from now to 2035. The strategy will support communities to better prepare for flood impacts and strengthen their ability to respond to flood crises.

For more information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/drought-flooding-dikes-dams/integrated-flood-hazard-management/bc-flood-strategy

Complete backgrounder: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024EMCR0017-000401