Northern Rockies Regional Municipality among 110 provincial projects supporting emergency operations

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) is among 110 projects set to receive $3.5 million in provincial funding.

According to a press release on July 21, the province is providing the funding through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which will support Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) in 138 communities across B.C. 

NRRM will receive an upgraded emergency operations trailer with furniture and equipment, according to the provincial government’s statement.

The NRRM’s Natural Resources/FireSmart and Emergency Program Coordinator, Terry Cavaliere, said the municipality is “grateful” for the province’s investment in the region.

“We are grateful for the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund’s continued investment in emergency preparedness in the Northern Rockies,” said Cavaliere in the release. 

“Previous Funding has strengthened our emergency management capabilities and our ability to coordinate effective responses, benefiting residents throughout the region.”

Cavaliere also said it would benefit the NRRM’s partners, including Prophet River First Nation and Fort Nelson First Nation. 

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a series of funding programs providing local governments and First Nations assistance as they prepare for disasters and reduce the risks from natural hazards “in a changing climate,” according to the release.

It provides EOCs and emergency support access to equipment and training, public notification and evacuation route planning and foundations of disaster risk reduction, and is funded through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM).

The release says $25 million has been provided to 820 projects province-wide in the last decade.