Local governments receive funding for emergency operations centres

Almost $3 million in provincial funding will be split between over 100 local and Indigenous governments to bolster emergency operations centres (EOC).

“We know significant costs are associated with emergency planning, mitigation, response and recovery for communities – including at local emergency operations centres. Emergency operations centres are the hub of response and recovery during an emergency, staffed by our hard-working partners in local governments and First Nations,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “These projects made possible through our Community Emergency Preparedness Fund will help better protect and keep people safe in the event of an emergency.”

B.C. officials said the money comes from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund and will be used by local and First Nations governments across the province to buy and install equipment to maintain or improve EOCs.

The money may also be used for training to bolster capacity.

EOCs function as a communication centre to coordinate resources and emergency crews in the event of an emergency, such as widespread flooding or wildfires.

“Funding for emergency preparedness is a wise investment that directly benefits our community. It enables us to develop robust emergency response plans, acquire essential resources, and enhance our readiness to handle a wide range of emergencies,” said Trent Bossence, fire chief and emergency program co-ordinator with the District of Kitimat. “With this funding, we can strengthen our community’s capacity to protect lives, minimize damage and recover swiftly, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for all.”

The province said this funding will go to 78 projects across over 100 communities.

You can see the full list of projects below.

• Abbotsford: Modernization and mobility
  • Total approved funding: $29,598
•  Adams Lake Indian Band: Emergency operations upgrades and training
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District: Improving regional EOC capacity
  • Regional partner: Port Alberni
  • Total approved funding: $60,000
•  Anmore: EOC
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Armstrong: EOC equipment foundations and training
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Barriere: EOC enhancement project
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Bowen Island: EOC training blitz 2023
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Bulkley-Nechako Regional District: Crisis communications workshop, EOC discussion-based exercise and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $29,902.22
• Capital Regional District: Department operations centre/EOC capacity development
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Cariboo Regional District: EOC mobilization equipment and training
  • Total approved funding: $7,280.05
• Castlegar: EOC essentials training
  • Total approved funding: $6,774
• Central Kootenay Regional District: EOC alternate site
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Central Okanagan Regional District: EOC and training 2023
  • Total approved funding: $28,090
• Chilliwack: EOC technology upgrades
  • Total approved funding: $29,400
• Clearwater: North Thompson area winter exercise and training
  • Total approved funding: $29,950
• Columbia Shuswap Regional District: Testing communications
  • Total approved funding: $29,980
• Colwood: EOC training and exercise
  • Total approved funding: $18,358.50
• Comox Valley Regional District: Hosting with humility: Reciprocity in action
  • Regional partners: Comox, Cumberland, Courtenay and K’ómoks First Nation
  • Total approved funding: $150,000
•  Cowichan Tribes: 2023 EOC
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Cowichan Valley Regional District: 2023 EOC project
  • Regional partners: Duncan, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan and North Cowichan
  • Total approved funding: $150,000
• Delta: EOC position-based training and exercises
  • Total approved funding: $27,440
• Doig River First Nation: Program EOC training and equipment project
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• East Kootenay Regional District: EOC readiness project
  • Regional partners: Cranbrook, Fernie and Invermere
  • Total approved funding: $119,990.25
• Elkford: Establish dedicated EOC and communications upgrade
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Fort St. James: Community centre portable generator
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Fraser Valley Regional District: EOC and training information officer capability
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Fraser-Fort George Regional District: EOC communications and training improvements
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Harrison Hot Springs: EOC technology upgrades
  • Total approved funding: $29,585
• Homalco First Nation: EOC supplies and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $28,682
• Houston: EOC training and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Kamloops: 2023 EOC training, supplies and modernization
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Kent: Training and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $29,371.50
• Kitimat: Emergency operations equipment modernization
  • Total approved funding: $26,299.11
• Langley City: EOC preparedness project
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Leq’á:mel First Nation: EOC Centre training for staff, chief and council policy group workshop
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Lhtako Dené Nation: EOC communication centre
  • Total approved funding: $29,995.40
• Lower Nicola Indian Band: EOC program support 2023
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Masset: EOC development project
  • Total approved funding: $29,772.35
• Metchosin: Portable EOC and storage
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Metro Vancouver: Dynamic EOC and deployable technical solutions
  • Total approved funding: $29,329.98
• Midway: Technology update
  • Total approved funding: $19,310
• Mission: EOC training project
  • Total approved funding: $29,837.05
• Nelson: EOC enhancement project (continued)
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• North Okanagan Regional District: EOC and training 2023
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• North Vancouver District: EOC and department operations centre interoperability enhancement
  • Regional partners: North Vancouver City and West Vancouver
  • Total approved funding: $73,681.36
• Northern Rockies Regional Municipality: EOC capacity building and training
  • Total approved funding: $29,900
• Old Masset Village Council: EOC kit purchase
  • Total approved funding: $26,982.32
• Oliver: Enhancing Oliver’s internal emergency response capacity
  • Total approved funding: $22,000
• Parksville: 2023 EOC training program – Wind causing significant power outages
  • Regional partner: Qualicum Beach
  • Total approved funding: $34,040
• Pemberton: EOC equipment and flood evacuation exercise
  • Total approved funding: $17,600
• Penticton: EOC 2023
  • Total approved funding: $29,200
• Pitt Meadows: EOC
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Port Coquitlam: EOC situational awareness enhancements and staff training\
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Port Moody: 2023 bolstering EOC and Emergency Support Services operational readiness
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Prince George: EOC training/exercises; equipment modernization and EOC process improvement
  • Total approved funding: $25,000
• Prince Rupert: Radio system reliability upgrades
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• qathet Regional District: Regional EOC training
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Saanich: Audio-visual enhancements
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Samahquam Nation: EOC supplies and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $29,551
• Seabird Island: Training and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Semá:th First Nation: Preparedness and response project
  • Total approved funding: $27,335.16
• Simpcw First Nation: North Thompson area winter exercise and training
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Skawahlook First Nation: Sq’ewa:lxw EOC supplies and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $27,151
• Skeetchestn Indian Band: Mobile EOC kits
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Smithers: 2023 EOC display security project
  • Regional partner: Telkwa
  • Total approved funding: $59,927.35
• Squamish: Interoperability and communications
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Squamish Nation: EOC upgrade and training
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District: 2023 atmospheric river EOC exercise
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Strathcona Regional District: EOC
  • Regional partners: Campbell River, Gold River, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, Mount Waddington Regional District, Nuchatlaht First Nation, Port Alice, Sayward, Tahsis, We Wai Kai Nation and Zeballos
  • Total approved funding: $329,200
• Sun Peaks: Virtual EOC development, training and EOC laptops
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• T’it’q’et: EOC
  • Total approved funding: $29,824.61
• Taylor: EOC equipment and training
  • Total approved funding: $8,800
• Thompson-Nicola Regional District: Enhancement project
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Tofino: EOC enhancement, training and equipment
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Uchucklesaht Tribe: EOC capability development
  • Total approved funding: $30,000
• Vancouver: EOC training
  • Total approved funding: $19,000
• Vanderhoof: EOC training and development 2023
  • Total approved funding: $29,995.79
• Xwisten: EOC kits
  • Total approved funding: $26,602.28