Several Kamloops-area First Nations and regional districts will be getting provincial funding meant to develop and upgrade emergency-evacuation-route and public-notification plans.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is getting $27,625 for evacuation route review work, while the Columbia Shuswap Regional District is getting $29,940 for community evacuation route planning and the Alertable awareness project.

Similarly, the Cariboo Regional District is getting $29,500 for evacuation route planning in the area around 108 Mile Ranch.

The Adams Lake Indian Band is also getting $30,000 for emergency route review work and governance policy development, while the Nooaitch Indian Band is getting $25,000 for emergency communication and evacuation route planning work.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness says the money is part of nearly $880,000 going to 19 communities through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund.

“Recent wildfires in remote regions of B.C. have put communities at risk of being cut off from the rest of the province, highlighting the need for good, advanced planning to ensure residents are able to evacuate safely,” Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said.

“We also know that First Nations and local governments have the most up-to-date information to provide to people to keep them safe. These funds will help ensure British Columbians can leave the area safely when a disaster hits, and will improve emergency notification, alerts and communication to people during emergencies.”

The Province says it has provided $369 million to the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund since it was set up in 2017. The fund is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities on behalf of the Province.

“When emergencies happen, First Nations and local governments are on the front lines,” UBCM president, Jen Ford, added.

“This pool of funding is instrumental in supporting local communities to prepare and resource themselves for disaster response and mitigation unique to their circumstances.”

List of Community Emergency Preparedness Fund recipients:

Adams Lake Indian Band: Emergency Route Review and Governance Policy Development
Total funding: $30,000

Burnaby: Evacuation Route Planning Toolkits – NW Quadrant (Brentwood) and Crisis Communications Strategy
Total funding: $30,000

Cariboo Regional District: 108 Mile Ranch and Surrounding Area – Evacuation Route Plan
Total funding: $29,500

Columbia Shuswap Regional District: Community Evacuation Route Planning and Alertable Awareness Project
Total funding: $29,940

Comox Valley Regional District: Evacuation and Public Notification Planning
Regional partners: K’ómoks First Nation, Cumberland, Comox, Courtenay
Total funding: $150,000

Cowichan Valley Regional District: 2023 East and Central Cowichan Evacuation Routes
Regional partners: Ladysmith, Duncan, North Cowichan, Lake Cowichan
Total funding: $147,500

Fraser Valley Regional District: Electoral Area E Evacuation Guide
Total funding: $30,000

Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation: Klemtu Evacuation Route and Notification Plan
Total funding: $30,000

Leq’á:mel First Nation: Evacuation Route Plan and Development of Public Notification Plan
Total funding: $28,820

Metchosin: Public Notification Plan
Total funding: $30,000

Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation: Gold River and Tsa’xana Evacuation Planning Partnership
Regional partner: Gold River
Total funding: $60,000

Nelson: Public Notification and Emergency Route Planning
Total funding: $23,000

Nooaitch Indian Band: Emergency Communication and Evacuation Route Plan
Total funding: $25,000

North Okanagan Regional District: Emergency Communications and Grandview Bench Evacuation Route Plan
Total funding: $30,000

North Vancouver District: Evacuation Route Plan and Exercise
Total funding: $90,000

Strathcona Regional District: Quadra Island Evacuation Guidelines and Tsunami Notification Guidelines
Total funding: $32,000

Tahltan Nation: Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning
Total funding: $30,000

Thompson-Nicola Regional District: Evacuation Route Review
Total funding: $27,625

Tsay Keh Dene Nation: Evacuation Route Planning
Total funding: $27,193.80