British Columbia – To help reduce flood risk, the Province is providing Merritt with $329,000 for a project to update flood-hazard mapping and develop new flood-mitigation plans, and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and the community of Princeton with $100,000 each to create an updated flood risk and hazard assessment.
The Province is funding flood-mitigation planning projects in several communities affected by November 2021 flooding to help them prepare for freshet 2022 and increase long-term resilience. Flooding in spring or early summer caused by heavy rain or melting snow is known as freshet.
“The Province is always there to support communities in their recovery after disasters and to help them build back better and more resilient to climate change. We know that a changing climate means more intense and frequent disasters, and it is crucial that communities across the province prepare and adapt,” said Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness. “With this funding, we’re supporting communities in planning ahead with the aim of preventing flooding when possible and minimizing the effects on our communities and people in B.C.”
The flood risk and hazard assessment is expected to help communities create updated flood-mitigation plans. Work will begin immediately. The flood risk and hazard assessment may also be used to support applications for additional provincial or federal funding streams for disaster mitigation and climate adaptation.
Funding is provided from Emergency Management BC’s disaster-mitigation budget.
